Kathy Greenlee

On May 1 President Obama announced that he would nominate Kathy Greenlee for the position of Assistant Secretary of the Administration on Aging in Health and Human Services. Greenlee has served as Secretary of Aging for the state of Kansas since January 2006 and sits on the board of the National Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA).

A graduate of The University of Kansas with degrees in business administration and law, she brings considerable experience to HHS. In her current position she administers the Older American’s Act programs, distributes Medicaid long-term care payments, and regulates nursing home licensure and survey processes. She previously held several other positions in the Kansas state government, including State Long-Term Care Ombudsman and Assistant Secretary of Aging.

She also served briefly as Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations for Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who recently became Secretary of HHS (see “Sebelius Confirmed as HHS Secretary,” PHI, April 30).

Greenlee’s appointment to the HHS position will mark the third time she has worked under Sebelius. From 1999-2002 she served as general counsel at the Kansas Insurance Department while Sebelius was the agency’s secretary.

Greenlee’s nomination was sent to the Senate on May 4.