Gov. Spencer J. Cox announced the appointment of Julie Ewing as the new director of Utah Medicaid at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The appointment is subject to approval by the Utah Senate.
In addition to overseeing the Medicaid program, Ewing will also serve as director of the DHHS Division of Integrated Healthcare, which includes the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Office of Substance Use and Mental Health, and the Utah State Hospital. Ewing brings a wealth of experience in health care compliance, managed care, and public law to the role, which oversees one of the largest and most critical programs in state government.
“I am pleased to welcome Julie Ewing back to the department as the new Medicaid director,” said Gov. Cox. “Julie is uniquely qualified to lead this program, bringing a powerful combination of legal expertise, a deep understanding of Medicaid’s complex managed care programs, and a proven commitment to compliance and fiscal integrity.”
“Julie’s work overseeing compliance and combating fraud, waste, and abuse for a major health plan, coupled with her six years of direct experience at Utah Medicaid, makes her the ideal leader to make sure we provide quality care to our most vulnerable citizens while being excellent stewards of taxpayer funds,” said DHHS Executive Director Tracy Gruber.
Ewing currently serves as the director of compliance for the University of Utah Health Plans, where she is responsible for ensuring compliance with state and federal law and overseeing the Special Investigations Unit monitoring for fraud, waste, and abuse. She is also the product owner for the Health Plan’s three Medicaid products.
Before her time at the University of Utah Health Plans, Ewing spent six years at Utah Medicaid, culminating in her role as the director of the Bureau of Managed Health Care, where she helped implement the Medicaid Accountable Care Organization model and oversaw the managed care plans for Medicaid and CHIP. Ewing is a licensed attorney in the state of Utah, having worked as an Assistant Attorney General for 10 years and representing various state agencies. She graduated from the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law.
Medicaid is one of the largest programs in state government and contributes significantly to the financing of Utah’s health care system. Medicaid has an operating budget of more than $5.3 billion, and through its many programs provides more than 350,000 Utahns access to health care every month.
