Michael Heifetz was appointed as State Medicaid Director in October 2016, leading multiple programs that serve 1.2 million members with an annual budget of $8.5 billion.  Key accomplishments include integrating Medicaid and long term care both holistically and operationally, increasing pay for performance and care delivery accountability, improving access to mental health and behavioral health care, and influencing the reform discussion in Washington, DC. Michael has 25 years of private and public sector experience, including eleven years in the health care arena.  Immediately before his current position, Michael served as the State Budget Director for three years, running the budgeting, financial services and policy analysis functions for the Executive Branch.  This included working directly with the Governor to develop the $72 billion state biennial budget, and ensuring implementation.  Prior to these senior positions in state service, Michael served as the Vice President for Government Affairs for Dean Clinic and SSM Health Care of Wisconsin (now SSM Health), the parent company of eight  wholly-owned and affiliated hospitals, numerous clinics, an award-winning health plan and a PBM.  In that role, Michael worked closely with federal and state elected and appointed officials to address many health care issues, including:  access, cost and quality improvement.  He was also a key strategist for Dean and SSMW in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and a national speaker on that topic. Occasionally, Michael can be found operating one of the Zamboni machines at Badger hockey games.