Dawn Stehle Named Arkansas Medicaid Director

After a nationwide search, Arkansas found its next Medicaid director on the existing staff.

Dawn Stehle was named state Medicaid director on Monday (Aug. 25) after serving as interim director since June 1, when outgoing director Andy Allison left the post. The Arkansas Medicaid director is integrally involved in the implementation of the contentious Private Option, Arkansas’ version of Medicaid expansion, and other health initiatives.

“Not only does Dawn have the experience of leading one of the most innovative Medicaid initiatives in the country, she also is a true team player who will value and empower her employees so that they will continue the successful transformation of the Medicaid system,” said DHS Deputy Director Janie Huddleston.

“We were looking for someone who was not only willing to be a pioneer in Medicaid, but also a person with a proven track record of success,” said DHS director John Selig. “Dawn has shown over and over again that she can tackle new tasks and turn innovative ideas into reality.”

Stehle, 34, began her career with DHS in August 2006 as a fellow working in Medicaid before landing a permanent position with the agency as a policy analyst in January 2007. She has served as DHS Policy and Planning director and as Medicaid’s Director of Health Care Innovation.

In that position, she lead the Arkansas Health Care Payment Improvement Initiative, an expanding program that is shifting health care from a “fee-for-service” model to an “episodic care” program.

Stehle holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and social work from the University of South Dakota, a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas’s Clinton School of Public Service and is completing her doctorate of public health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.