Dr. Matthew Van Patton was appointed in February 2018 by Governor Pete Ricketts to serve as the Director of the Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care within the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. In this capacity, he oversees the division responsible for Nebraska’s Medicaid managed care program, Heritage Health, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which collectively cover more than 240,000 of Nebraska’s most vulnerable citizens. He is responsible for an annual budget exceeding $2.2 billion and managing a division with nearly 600 employees.
Van Patton’s 18-year career has focused on healthcare and public policy. Immediately before his appointment, he served as the president and chief executive officer of Cadre Medical Technologies, LLC, a startup healthcare technology company building transition of care and staff placement solutions.
Previously, Van Patton served as the Chief of Staff for Congressman Trey Gowdy of South Carolina. He has also worked as Chief of Staff to the Board of Directors, Chief Policy Officer, Director of Innovations and Institutional Review Board Administrator for the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System.
Van Patton holds a Doctor of Health Administration degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Additionally, he also holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications and Leadership from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of South Carolina Upstate. He is a native of Greer, South Carolina.
Van Patton is a Liberty Fellow and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.