The Alabama Medicaid Agency is under new leadership after Governor Kay Ivey appointed a long-standing organization affiliate as its next commissioner. On Thursday afternoon, Ivey announced that she has selected attorney Bo Offord for the role. Offord has represented and advised the agency for 15 years on a variety of legal matters.
Offord will be replacing Stephanie McGee Azar, who has been tapped to become the next chief executive officer of the State Employees’ Insurance Board of Directors (SEIB).
Ivey praised Azar’s thirteen-year record as the leader of the organization.
“As Alabama’s longest consecutively serving Medicaid commissioner, Stephanie Azar has proven herself a skillful manager of the state’s public health insurance program for low-income families,” said Ivey.
“She successfully directed annual Medicaid budgets for more than 13 years and shepherded the passage of legislation to create and fund the first Alabama Medicaid Reserve while maintaining a balanced budget. I am grateful to Stephanie for her years of invaluable service, and I am confident she will continue to serve the state well through her new position at SEIB.”
The Governor touted Offord’s experience as a legal advisor.
“Meanwhile, Bo Offord has diligently helped guide the Alabama Medicaid Agency for close to two decades, serving as assistant general counsel, deputy general counsel, and general counsel. He has demonstrated the necessary expertise to ensure the Agency remains on the sound footing Commissioner Azar established, and I look forward to his leadership as he assumes his new role of Medicaid commissioner.”
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Offord expressed gratitude for being named to the role and commended Azar for efficiently directing the organization.
“It is an honor to be appointed by Governor Ivey to serve as the next commissioner of the Alabama Medicaid Agency,” said Offord. “I am sincerely thankful for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Alabama in this capacity. I had the privilege to work with Commissioner Azar for 15 years, witnessing firsthand her professionalism and leadership.”
“I am certain she will have nothing but success at the State Employees Insurance Board.”
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
