Press Release  Secretary of Health and Human Services Kiame Mahaniah Appoints Dr. Ryan Schwarz as Massachusetts’ Medicaid Director and Assistant Secretary for MassHealth

BOSTON — Secretary of Health and Human Services Kiame Mahaniah, MD, MBA announced today that he is appointing Dr. Ryan Schwarz as Massachusetts’ Medicaid Director and Assistant Secretary for MassHealth, effective Monday, June 8. Dr. Schwarz has served as Chief of the Office of Accountable Care and Behavioral Health at MassHealth, Massachusetts’ combined Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agency, since April 2024 and has been part of the MassHealth leadership team since 2019. He is also a practicing internal medicine and pediatrics physician at a community health center in Chelsea.   

In April, current Medicaid Director and Undersecretary for MassHealth Mike Levine announced that he will be stepping down from his role at MassHealth, relocating to the west coast to be closer to family. Mike has led MassHealth since 2023.  

“Massachusetts is proud to have one of the strongest Medicaid programs in the country, and protecting access to health care has never been more important,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Dr. Schwarz brings deep experience, steady leadership and a clear commitment to delivering care for families, seniors, children and vulnerable residents across Massachusetts. I’m grateful to Mike Levine for his service and leadership, and I look forward to working with Dr. Schwarz in this new role.” 

“Dr. Schwarz has dedicated his career to improving health care delivery and strengthening support for patients and families,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “His background as both a practicing physician and health care leader gives him a strong understanding of the challenges facing communities across Massachusetts, and we’re excited to see him lead MassHealth into its next chapter.” 

“Dr. Schwarz has a tremendous record as both a community health center physician and a health care policy expert. His demonstrated leadership as a valued member of the MassHealth executive team and his commitment to delivering accessible, high-quality health care for the people of Massachusetts make him a terrific candidate for helping Massachusetts navigate these challenging times for our Medicaid program,” said Secretary Mahaniah. “It has been a pleasure working with Undersecretary Levine, who has laid such a strong foundation for our work to ensure access to high-quality health care across our state.” 

"I'm grateful to Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, and Secretary Mahaniah for the opportunity to continue serving MassHealth members as Medicaid Director, and to Undersecretary Levine for his leadership over the past few years," said Dr. Schwarz. "This is certainly a challenging moment for Medicaid here in Massachusetts and across the country, but Massachusetts has always been a leader in health care and I look forward to working with our exceptional partners to come together, problem solve, and work to make the right services and supports available to residents who need them throughout the Commonwealth." 

“It has been an honor to be part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and to work with the incredible teams at EOHHS and MassHealth to support MassHealth members,” said Undersecretary Levine. “While I will deeply miss working with my colleagues and partners across Massachusetts, I am thrilled to be leaving MassHealth staff and members in such great hands. As his colleague, I have relied heavily on Ryan’s steady leadership and good counsel over the past seven years we have worked together, and I know he will do an outstanding job leading the program forward.”  

In his most recent role at MassHealth, Dr. Schwarz has led the agency’s nation-leading efforts to transition from siloed, fee-for-service health care model to accountable care, which delivers whole-person, outcome-focused health care for members. He also oversaw MassHealth’s primary care, behavioral health, nutrition and tenancy support services, and strategic initiatives including MassHealth’s innovative 1115 Demonstration waiver. Dr. Schwarz previously served as clinical lead for the Massachusetts COVID-19 Response Command Center in which he helped lead the state’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also a participating member of the Administration’s Primary Care Access, Delivery, and Payment Task Force and the Health Care Affordability Working Group. Prior to his time in Massachusetts state government, Dr. Schwarz worked on health care delivery policy, including as a technical adviser to the World Bank, and with multiple healthcare organizations globally. He completed his MD and MBA at Yale, and his clinical training at Harvard Medical School.  

MassHealth provides robust health care coverage for approximately two million people in Massachusetts, including qualifying children, families, seniors, and people living with disabilities. Approximately one in three Massachusetts residents and about 40% of children in the state are covered by MassHealth. Health care benefits may include doctor visits, dental, prescription drugs, behavioral health services, long-term supports and services, and other important health care services.  

Statements of Support: 

Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing:  

“I am excited for the appointment of Dr. Schwarz, who has demonstrated skilled leadership within MassHealth and will help to continue to deliver preeminent, affordable health care to those in Massachusetts who need it most in the face of unprecedented hardship. I am also immensely grateful for Undersecretary Levine’s work and leadership to strengthen and protect this essential program for millions of Massachusetts residents.”   

Representative John J. Lawn Jr. (D-Watertown), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing: 

“Dr. Schwarz brings a wealth of expertise and a proven commitment to expanding access to high-quality, affordable health care. Having worked alongside him for years and on the Primary Care Task Force, I have seen firsthand his innovative, equity-driven approach to improving care for every resident across the Commonwealth, and I look forward to continuing this collaboration together.” 

Steve Walsh, President and CEO, Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA): 

“MassHealth has a long and historic track record of advancing innovative, inclusive care for patients across the commonwealth – a legacy that is in great hands with the appointment of Medicaid Director and Assistant Secretary Schwarz. Dr. Schwarz has a deep understanding of our healthcare sector, and was an especially critical leader for our hospitals and health systems as they navigated the COVID-19 emergency. That partnership has grown stronger ever since, making him an excellent choice by the Governor and a superb choice for the broader healthcare community – and most importantly, patients across Massachusetts.” 

Lora Pellegrini, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans: 

"Massachusetts is facing a period of significant change in health care, making strong leadership at MassHealth more important than ever. Dr. Ryan Schwarz brings deep experience, a thoughtful approach to policy, and a strong commitment to the members and communities MassHealth serves. Massachusetts health plans look forward to working closely with Ryan and his team to strengthen the program, improve health outcomes, and ensure beneficiaries continue to have access to high-quality, affordable care. 

We are also deeply grateful to Mike Levine for his years of leadership and partnership. Mike has been a steadfast advocate for MassHealth members and a trusted collaborator on some of the Commonwealth’s most complex health care challenges. His dedication to improving care for vulnerable populations has left a lasting impact on Massachusetts, and we wish him all the best in his next chapter." 

Lydia Conley, President & CEO of the Association for Behavioral Healthcare: 

“Dr. Ryan Schwarz is deeply experienced in care delivery for MassHealth members, through his current leadership role at the agency and his many years of experience serving patients directly. He has been a strong partner to the behavioral health community in his role overseeing accountable care and behavioral health. He is extraordinarily well-positioned to serve as Medicaid Director, continuing the agency’s focus and leadership around behavioral health. We are grateful to Undersecretary Mike Levine for his strong leadership and partnership during his tenure.” 

Dr. Michael Curry, Esq., President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers: 

“On behalf of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and our 50 members, I am pleased to congratulate Dr. Ryan Schwarz on being appointed Medicaid Director. As a physician-leader, Ryan has seen firsthand the vital role community health centers and community-based organizations play in addressing persistent health disparities, expanding access to care, and improving population-level health outcomes for all.  

Ryan understands Massachusetts, our strengths, our challenges, and is exceptionally well-suited to lead MassHealth during this critical time. I look forward to working closely with him and the entire MassHealth team to ensure our most vulnerable can continue to get the care they need.”  

Christina Severin, President & CEO, Community Care Cooperative (C3): 

“On behalf of Community Care Cooperative, Inc. (C3), I am thrilled to congratulate Dr. Schwarz on his new role as Medicaid Director and Assistant Secretary. MassHealth is C3's most important partner, and we have come to expect an extremely high level of operational excellence, visionary policymaking, and commitment to the Medicaid population. We are confident those high expectations will continue to be met under Dr. Schwarz's leadership, especially given his years of experience leading the MassHealth ACO program and his clinical background providing community primary care.” 

 Dr. Rebecca Weintraub Brendel, President of the Massachusetts Medical Society 
"On behalf of the Massachusetts Medical Society, we offer our heartfelt congratulations to Ryan Schwarz, MD on his appointment as Medicaid Director and Assistant Secretary for MassHealth and thank former director Mike Levine for his years of dedicated service.  The MassHealth program will no doubt benefit from Dr. Schwarz’s experience and perspective as a practicing physician, his deep knowledge and policy expertise, his thoughtful approach to innovation, and his profound commitment to ensuring comprehensive access to high-quality care for all MassHealth members.  Throughout his tenure at MassHealth, Dr. Schwarz has cultivated a deep respect from stakeholders through his inclusive approach to policymaking.  We look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Schwarz and cannot think of a better leader to navigate the challenges MassHealth faces to implement federal policy changes and guide us through the next 1115 waiver." 

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