Newsom Announces CHHS Appointments

Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of California Health and Human Services (CHHS) Agency Undersecretary Michelle Baass as the Director of the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Ms. Baass will fill the role held by outgoing DHCS Director Will Lightbourne since June 2020.

Ms. Baass has been CHHS Undersecretary since 2018 and previously served as CHHS Deputy Secretary of the Office of Program and Fiscal Affairs from 2017 to 2018. Prior to CHHS, Ms. Baass served as principal consultant at the California State Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review from 2012 to 2017. Ms. Baass also have previous employment history with the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO).

In addition to Ms. Baass’ appointment, Governor Newsom announced the appointment of Marko Mijic as CHHS Undersecretary, filling the vacancy created by Ms. Baass’ DHCS appointment. Mr. Mijic has been deputy secretary of program and fiscal affairs at CHHS since 2019, where he has served in several positions since 2015. During 2020 to 2021, Mijic was acting director of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. Mr. Mijic also previously worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Additional information about Newsom’s CHHS appointments is available here.