TennCare Director Announces Departure
Gabe Roberts leaving Lee administration to return to the private sector
Nashville – Tennessee’s Division of TennCare director Gabe Roberts announces today he is leaving Tennessee state government to return to the private sector. His anticipated last day will be Monday, March 2, 2020. Governor Lee has not yet named a successor to the position.
“We’re grateful to Gabe Roberts for his many years of service to the state of Tennessee,” said Governor Bill Lee. “Gabe has been instrumental in guiding TennCare during the first year of my administration, and I’m thankful for his leadership.mWhile his service in state government is coming to an end for now, I’m certain our state will continue to benefit from his contributions in his future endeavors. Maria and I wish him and his family all the best.”
Roberts’s service in Tennessee state government began in 2013 joining TennCare as general counsel. He was promoted to deputy director and chief operating officer in 2016. Roberts was subsequently appointed by Governor Lee as director of TennCare in January 2019.
“It has been the honor of my professional life to serve the state of Tennessee during my seven years at TennCare and for serving alongside Governor Lee this past year,” said Gabe Roberts. “I am thankful to my phenomenal wife and family for supporting me every day in my journey to serve our state and the members of the TennCare program. And I am indebted to my incredible team who has worked tirelessly with stakeholders across the state for so long to ensure that our Medicaid program remains on the leading edge of positive transformation, innovation, and fiscal sustainability. I am excited to see what they will accomplish with Governor Lee on behalf of the state in the coming years.”
During his tenure at TennCare, Roberts, among other things, was instrumental in the design and implementation of many of the agency’s initiatives including the Tennessee Health Care Innovation Initiative, the Employment and Community First CHOICES program, and the agency’s strategy to combat the opioid epidemic in Tennessee. Most recently under Roberts’s leadership, TennCare submitted two innovative proposals including Tennessee’s Katie Beckett program and Tennessee’s Block Grant plan which are both pending approval by the federal government.
About TennCare
TennCare is the state of Tennessee’s Medicaid program which provides health insurance to approximately 1.4 million low-income Tennesseans including pregnant women, children, caretaker relatives of dependent children and older adults, and adults with disabilities. With a satisfaction rating above 90 percent since 2009, TennCare provides health insurance, including long-term services and supports, through the use of managed care.