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New Mexico State Senate confirms Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Patrick M. Allen
SANTA FE – Today the New Mexico State Senate confirmed Patrick M. Allen as cabinet secretary for the Department of Health with a vote of (26-5) . Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Secretary Allen Jan. 3, 2023.
“Patrick has the right policy experience, the right leadership experience, and the right public health experience to bolster health equity and improve health outcomes for all New Mexicans.” said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “I have no doubt that he will be an outstanding leader at the Department of Health.”
“This is a nominee who is highly qualified,” said Senator Mimi Stewart. “He has had a valuable range of experience that will help him succeed in this job.”
“I’m humbled by this endorsement of Gov. Lujan Grisham’s confidence in me. I look forward to serving the people of New Mexico, and providing strong, innovative health leadership in the state,” said Cabinet Secretary Patrick M. Allen.
The New Mexico Department of Health works to ensure health equity, and works with its partners to promote health and well-being and improve health outcomes for all people in New Mexico.
Secretary Allen most recently served as the Director of the Oregon Health Authority, that state’s umbrella health agency. He was responsible for delivery of health insurance to over 40% of Oregonians through Medicaid, the state’s health insurance marketplace, and health insurance benefits for state employees and education employees throughout Oregon. He was also responsible for the statewide behavioral health system, including the Oregon State Hospital, a two-campus, 700-bed psychiatric facility. Allen also oversaw the state public health system, health policy as well as health facility regulation, and systems to regulate mergers and acquisition and other aspects of health care costs. Allen was responsible for leading Oregon’s overall response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which the Commonwealth Fund rated as the fifth best in the United States.
Secretary Allen has been in public service for over 30 years, including six years running Oregon’s Department of Consumer and Business Services, the state’s general financial and business regulatory agency. As Oregon’s lead insurance regulator, he played a key role in stabilizing the individual health insurance market through the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. He has also worked in community and economic development in Oregon, as well as spending time serving on the district staff of a member of the state’s Congressional delegation.
Allen has a degree in Economics from Oregon State University. He and his wife Joan have three grown children.
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