Shumlin names Christine Oliver to be Commissioner of Mental Health

Governor-elect Peter Shumlin today announced that Christine M. Oliver will serve as Commissioner of Mental Health.
"Christine has broad experience with mental health issues and services, and with health care issues broadly," said Shumlin. "Her professional background makes her a strong addition to our human services team."
Oliver has served as Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Health Care Administration, through the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration, since her appointment in 2006. In that post, she was the managerial head of the state division responsible for regulating health insurance (including rates and forms), quality of health care services, and related consumer education and protection. The division also has statutory responsibility for reviewing hospital budgets and issuing "certificates of need" for hospital expenditures.
"We are very fortunate to have Christine join the Human Services team," said Human Services Secretary Designee Doug Racine. "She understands the connections between mental and physical health. Those skills will help us as we proceed with health care reform and closing the Vermont State Hospital as soon as possible."
Prior to her Vermont tenure, Oliver was Executive Assistant for Health and Human Services to Ohio Governor Bob Taft, focusing on Mental Health, Health, Job and Family Services (including Medicaid), Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Aging, Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services issues.
She also served as General Counsel for the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, an agency that serves 60,000 individuals through 12 state-operated developmental centers, 88 county boards of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, and 1,300 private providers regulated by the State. In addition, she previously was an associate with the Ohio law firm of Delligatti, Hollenbaugh & Briscoe Co., L.P.A., with a focus on business and health care litigation.
Oliver obtained her law degree from the Ohio State University, College of Law and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, magna cum laude, from Youngstown State University.
Her salary will be $99,000.
Source: Shumlin's office. 12.23.2010