Kaprielian named regional HHS director

By Gintautas Dumcius

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

BOSTON -- Former state Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rachel Kaprielian has been appointed to a top federal health and human services post.

Kaprielian, a former state representative who went on to serve in Gov. Deval Patrick's administration, will serve as Health and Human Services regional director for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, President Obama's health chief said Wednesday.

"Rachel's work in state and local policy will surely be an asset to our Region I office," Sylvia Burwell, secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement. "We look forward to Rachel joining her fellow Regional Directors as they continue their work delivering impact in communities around the country."

Kaprielian, who is scheduled to start her new job on Monday, also served as registrar of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

A Watertown Democrat, Kaprielian served six terms in the Legislature. Kaprielian also discussed with a recruiter the position of president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Christie Hager, the previous regional director, left in December and took a job with Beacon Health Options, a managed behavioral health care company.

Former state Reps. Phil Johnston and Brian Golden, who now heads the Boston Redevelopment Authority, have also held the regional directorship.

Former Sen. Richard Moore, an Uxbridge Democrat, applied for the regional directorship after losing his seat to Webster Republican Ryan Fattman in November 2014.

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Kaprielian named regional HHS director