New Leadership Team for Texas Health and Human Services Commission Announced

A new leadership team has been announced to head up the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Dr. Kyle Janek of Austin has been named as the executive commissioner of the HHSC effective on September 1^st. Chris Traylor of Austin will serve as chief deputy commissioner as well.

The group will oversee the operations of the five health and human services agencies, which has more than 55,000 employees, combined annual budgets of more than $30 billion, and Texas’ Medicaid program.

Janek is an anesthesiologist and director of anesthesia services at Lakeway Regional Medical Center, and is also a past member of the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate. Current commissioner Tom Suehs is retiring.

Traylor has served as Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services since 2010, and also helped oversee the consolidation of the 15 health and human services agencies into the current five in 2004, and is past associate commissioner for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University.

“Texas, like the rest of the country, is headed into a period of the most significant changes in health care in our history,” said Governor Rick Perry.

“This new leadership team, with Kyle and Chris at the helm, combines unparalleled experience and expertise to ensure Texans continue to have access to the health care they need while implementing fiscal policies that are mindful that it’s taxpayer money they are spending.”