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Former health official to head Arizona social-service agency

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PHOENIX (AP) — Gov. Doug Ducey has appointed the former head of Arizoia's Medicaid program as temporary director of the state's social-services agency.

The governor's office announced Friday that former Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Director Tom Betlach will lead the Department of Economic Security for 75 days.

The office said that's while the interim director, Health Services Director Cara Christ, leads the state's response to the coronavirus, Betlach stepped down in 2018 after heading AHCCCS for nine year.

He previously served as the agency's deputy for eight years and as state budget director for five years.

Christ remained as head of the Department of Health Services when she was named interim DES director last fall when Director Michael Trailor stepped down.