SC Medicaid director steps down

South Carolina’s Medicaid chief has resigned to return to the private sector.

S.C. Health and Human Services Director Christian Soura is stepping down from the Cabinet post, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster announced Thursday.

Soura’s resignation from the $159,130-a-year job will take effect next Friday.

Deirdra Singleton, currently the Deputy Director of Health Programs at the agency, will serve as acting director.

“Christian has been a tremendous asset to the Department of Health and Human Services and to South Carolina as a whole,” McMaster said in a statement.

“His strong leadership and commitment to the agency’s mission has improved the lives of South Carolinians, and we look forward to working with stakeholders from around the State to find someone who will continue that legacy to lead what is one of our most complex and important agencies.”

Former Gov. Nikki Haley named Soura in 2014 to head the state’s Medicaid agency, overseeing a roughly $7.4 billion budget including state and federal dollars.

Soura joined the Haley administration in 2011 as an efficiency expert. Later, he became deputy chief of staff for budget and policy, paid an $128,698-a-year salary before being named director of Health and Human Services.

This story was originally published March 30, 2017 at 12:34 PM with the headline "SC Medicaid director steps down."