HHS pegs new executive director of Medical Services Division

BISMARCK — North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) on Friday, June 9, named Sarah Aker as its new executive director of the Medical Services Division.

Aker is a current Medicaid strategist and policy expert, and will now lead the services division that administers Medicaid services, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), autism services and other related health services, according to a release from HHS.

Prior to joining the department, Aker served as the Medicaid director for the South Dakota Department of Social Services where she led the implementation of South Dakota’s Medicaid Expansion program.

“We’re excited for Sarah to join our team, she brings valuable expertise from the Medicaid health care providers’ perspective, Medicaid agency operations and public policy development,” said HHS Commissioner Chris Jones.

Aker will be taking over for interim Medicaid Director Krista Fremming.

Paige Naughton (she/her) joined The Forum in May of 2023 as a news and reporting intern. She is a current Concordia College student majoring in English with a concentration in Writing and Multimedia Journalism.