Gov. Henry McMaster announces next Department of Health and Human Services Director

Governor Henry McMaster announced Joshua Baker as the next director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Earlier this spring, the governor created a search committee of state healthcare leaders that assisted him throughout the selection process following the departure of former agency director Christian Soura. That group included:

“The Department of Health and Human Services is well positioned to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing healthcare landscape thanks to the steady leadership of Director Soura, Acting Director Singleton, and the agency’s dedicated staff,” Mr. Baker said.Since August of 2016, Mr. Baker has served as Director of Operations for DHHS. In that capacity, he oversees a claims receipt, review, and payment operation that processes over $2 billion of Medicaid health service claims annually, while maintaining a credentialing system of more than 46,000 participating Medicaid providers.

Prior to joining DHHS, Mr. Baker served as Governor Nikki Haley’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Budget and Policy, and was the primary author of the FY 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 executive budgets. He began his career in the medical field through service in the United States Army, where he filled several technical and leadership roles in clinical laboratories.

Baker, 36, is a resident of Lexington County and is married with three children.