Joshua Baker was recently named vice president, state Medicaid and health policy, at Mathematica. In this new position, Joshua will lead evaluation, analysis, and improvement of state Medicaid and health policy, partnering with state health officials and agencies to improve access and quality and to reduce cost.
Before joining Mathematica in April 2021, Baker served as director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. He managed the state’s $8 billion Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance programs.
Baker’s decade-long tenure in South Carolina included service under two governors, during which time he was principal author of two executive budgets and co-author of three others. He modeled the state’s financial recovery effort for three statewide emergency weather events and integrated the state’s education system for infants and toddlers with developmental delays into the Medicaid program. He also led the department’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, issuing more than 30 emergency policies and waivers to ensure safe access to health care services and implementing new benefit groups to finance COVID-19 testing for South Carolina’s uninsured population.
“Since joining our team, Joshua has provided valuable insights for our state health clients and empathized with the challenges they continue to face with the pandemic,” said Jonathan Morse, senior vice president and managing director of health program improvement. “This new role is well- deserved and a reflection of how thoroughly Josh understands our clients’ needs, as well as how suited he is to Mathematica’s culture and vision.”
“It’s been an exciting start to my Mathematica career, meeting with state health officials throughout the country and further understanding their shared challenges and opportunities. I’m eager to combine insights from my time in South Carolina with those of the portfolio of experts at Mathematica to develop thoughtful and action-oriented solutions for state health systems,” said Baker. “I am thrilled to take on this new role and serve states as a partner to my Medicaid and state health colleagues.”
In addition to his experience in South Carolina, Baker worked for eight years in clinical laboratories and served for six years on active duty for the U.S. Army. He earned a B.S. and an international M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina.