Guardsmen to Florida, Reeves names new Medicaid director

Photo: Guardsmen set to leave for Hurricane Milton relief in Florida. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Justin R. Brown)

Oct. 9, 2024 – Gov. Reeves announced that he has approved the deployment of 22 Mississippi National Guardsmen to Tallahassee, Florida. The 22 soldiers will support emergency response missions in Florida in the anticipated aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

“Mississippi stands ready to assist Florida as they brace for Hurricane Milton,” said Gov. Tate Reeves. “Our state is no stranger to hurricanes, and we’ll always be grateful for the assistance we’ve received in the past from people across the country. It’s only right that we now help our fellow Americans in their time of need. I know the Mississippi National Guard will do an excellent job assisting Floridians.”

Twenty-two members of the Mississippi Army National Guard’s 185th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, headquartered in Jackson deployed to Tallahassee International Airport, in preparation for recovery operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. The Mississippi National Guard aviation response team consisted of 22 soldiers, aviators, and crewmen, flying two HH-60M Blackhawks from Jackson and one CH-47 Chinook helicopter from Meridian to aid in hurricane response missions.

Drew Snyder Departing Medicaid After Nearly 7 Years; Gov. Reeves Names Cindy Bradshaw Successor

Gov. Tate Reeves Wednesday also announced that Mississippi Division of Medicaid Executive Director Drew Snyder is leaving Mississippi state government to return to the private sector later this year. Reeves has chosen Deputy Executive Director Cindy Bradshaw as his successor. Snyder and Bradshaw will be working closely over the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition. Snyder’s anticipated final day is Oct. 31.

Snyder was initially appointed executive director in January 2018. He is one of the five longest-serving Medicaid directors in the U.S. and is Mississippi’s longest-serving Medicaid director this century.  

Bradshaw has been serving as Medicaid’s Deputy Executive Director for Eligibility since April 2023. Bradshaw has helped shepherd the agency through the unprecedented unwinding of the 3-year public health emergency. Previously, Bradshaw was State Insurance Administrator, where she oversaw a billion-dollar annual portfolio that included the 200,000-member State and School Employees’ Life and Health Insurance Plan. Bradshaw also has nearly two decades of experience in health plan operations for private insurers.

“With deep experience in health plan operations in the public and private sectors, Cindy Bradshaw is well-prepared to lead Mississippi’s Medicaid program,” Reeves said. “She has a proven record of elevating operational performance and advancing initiatives aimed at improving outcomes and protecting taxpayers. She is an excellent choice to ensure continuity and continued progress in the Medicaid program.”