Huhn selected to provide national leadership on Healthcare Advisory Committee…

Missouri Department of Mental Health Director and NASDDDS Board President Valerie Huhn has been selected to serve on the Healthcare Advisory Committee, a new federal advisory body comprised of leaders from across the healthcare system who will provide expert recommendations to help improve patient care and modernize the U.S. healthcare system.

Huhn is one of 18 members selected through a competitive review process that drew more than 400 nominations nationwide. Members of the Committee will serve two-year terms and meet regularly throughout the year in open, public meetings. The Committee will advise U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on improving care delivery and financing across major federal healthcare programs.

As Director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Huhn leads a state agency with more than $4 billion in budget authority, more than 6,500 employees, and responsibility for serving approximately 170,000 Missourians and their families. During her tenure, she has advanced innovations in technology-first service delivery, data integration dashboards, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic implementation, managed care redesign, and housing partnerships for people with disabilities.

Huhn has also provided stellar leadership at the national level through her service as a member of the CMS Home and Community-Based Services Access Workgroup and to the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS). As President of the NASDDDS Board of Directors, she has helped guide the association's efforts to support state systems serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a strong emphasis on innovation, cross-system collaboration, and practical strategies that strengthen person-centered supports. Her leadership has helped elevate state perspectives in national conversations on Medicaid, workforce, technology, and system transformation.

"Val brings exceptional leadership, deep policy expertise, and a strong commitment to improving systems of support for people and families," said NASDDDS Executive Director Mary Sowers. "Through her leadership in Missouri and her service to NASDDDS, she has consistently advanced thoughtful, forward-looking approaches that strengthen public systems and improve lives. We are thrilled to see her selected for this important role and know she will bring an invaluable perspective to the Committee's work."

Prior to becoming Director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health in 2022, Huhn held senior leadership roles within the department, Missouri's Medicaid agency MO HealthNet, and the Office of Administration's Division of Budget and Planning. She has presented nationally on topics including conflict-of-interest mitigation in case management, business acumen development, operational excellence, and integrated primary and behavioral healthcare.

For more information contact, Debra Walker at the Missouri Department of Mental Health, [email protected] or Carrie McGraw with NASDDDS at [email protected].

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The Missouri Department of Mental Health serves approximately 170,000 Missourians annually through state-operated facilities and contracts with private organizations and individuals. The department is composed of three divisions: the Division of Behavioral Health, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and the Division of Administrative Services, as well as seven support offices. Its mission is to serve, empower and support all Missourians to live their best lives.

The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) represents state agencies, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico providing services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. NASDDDS promotes visionary leadership, systems innovation, and the development of national policies that support home and community-based services for individuals with disabilities and their families