Sanford nominates DHHS director

Gov. Mark Sanford nominated South Carolina native Emma Forkner as the Director of the Department Health and Human Services today, according to a news release.

Forkner, 57, is a nurse with 35 years experience, and is currently a senior policy analyst in the area of Health Quality Research at the Altarum Institute in San Antonio, Tex., the release said. 

Forkner retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1997, where she achieved the rank of colonel.

A Dillon native, Forkner grew up in the state and received her nursing degree from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Forkner will take the reins of the DHHS, which lately has been focused on innovative changes to Medicaid aimed at improving the overall quality of care while helping control the rate of the program's growth.

Last week, it Sanford announced that South Carolina was chosen to be the first state in the nation to offer Medicaid recipients direct incentives for healthy behavior. The agency has also implemented a prescription drug reform package that has saved the state almost $13 million per year in drug costs, according to the release.

"Whether it's been her time in the military spent as a hands-on health-care professional or her work in the private sector looking at big picture issues, I think Emma brings a unique skill set to this job,"  Sanford said in the release. "Under Robbie Kerr's leadership of the agency, this administration has successfully focused on both improving quality of care while helping to control the rate of Medicaid growth, both of which will continue to be a priority for us. I want to thank Emma for agreeing to accept this role, and I welcome her to the team."

Forkner will begin work at the agency pending Senate confirmation.

"I'm honored that the governor has chosen me to lead the Department of Health and Human Services," Forkner said. "This agency has made some remarkable strides over the past four years, and it's a record of progress I'm going to make every effort to continue, while at the same time facing new challenges that may come our way."

Comments

[bob hiott]

sc has fewest uninsured children of neighboring states but poorest childrens health,birthweight,infant mortality and one of lowest medicaid $ per recipient.hope new dhhs leader will talk to local providers and recipients prior to making changes. we need to maximize publicly funded health services to under 21s - most $ now spent on elderly.

[sam]

Wow, Governor Mark has done it again. He nominated someone who has lived out of state for over 30 years, limited management experience, not a day's experience with Medicare/Medicaid programs but is the first cousin of trusted Sanford agent Sec of Commerce Joe Taylor. The people of SC deserve more professional and SC related credentials than family relations!