BOISE, Idaho — This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
Dave Jeppesen, head of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare since 2019, announced Wednesday he would retire at the end of the year. Jeppesen was Gov. Brad Little’s pick to run the large health agency, and recently he had faced strong pushback from lawmakers and first-term Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador over some of the agency’s decisions.
In a press release Wednesday, Little said Department of Insurance Director Dean Cameron would serve as interim director, while he praised Jeppesen’s work in the role.
“Dave has always had my full support and confidence, and I am glad to see him enjoy retirement after a successful career. He deserves it,” Little said in the release. “Dave led the agency through major changes and improvements, and I join many, many people in Idaho in expressing my appreciation for his accomplishments and service.”
In recent years, Jeppesen faced some significant headwinds with some of his dealings with the Legislature.
Last week, leaders of the state budget-writing committee questioned their ability to appropriate funds to the department over audit findings regarding a Community Grant Program, in which the agency distributed federal funds.
The audit found that the grants went to ineligible programs based on the criteria for the funding that the Legislature set. Legislative Services Office staff referred the case to the Idaho Attorney General, who had already begun looking into the same grant program.
The department disputed all of the findings.
In March, Labrador’s office issued sweeping civil investigative demands to the agency as well as the director and other employees personally. Jeppesen and others who were served filed a petition in court to end the demands.
Another grant program from the same federal funding source had originally been distributed by the health agency as well, but the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC) transferred that spending authority to the Department of Labor because of concerns about the Community Partners Grant.
“We wanted to give this the best chance possible of moving and remove any question about how it would be distributed,” JFAC Co-Chair Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, told the Idaho Press at the time.
Little lauded Jeppesen's work in overseeing “historic new behavioral health resources” in Idaho in his role as co-char of the Idaho Behavioral Health Council. He highlighted achievements such as implementing the Idaho 988 suicide and crisis line, new youth crisis centers, new certified community behavioral health centers, and the creation of a recovery coaching academy.
“On his watch, Idaho created more than 85 new beds that will be available in the next 12 months for youth in crisis when the state previously had no in-state psychiatric residential treatment centers for youth,” the release said. “He made improvements to state run hospitals, including opening a new state-run psychiatric hospital for youth, and his team stabilized and improved a southwest Idaho facility that serves individuals with developmental disabilities.”
Jeppesen previously served as chief marketing officer at Blue Cross of Idaho, ran an international bank consulting business, was chief marketing officer for Barclays Bank’s United Kingdom Retail Bank in London, and was deputy chief risk officer at Capital One.
“Serving as DHW director has been the greatest honor of my career, and hands down my favorite job,” Jeppesen said in the release. “I am grateful to Governor Little and the people of Idaho for entrusting me with such an important role. The department and its valuable employees work tirelessly to carry out a significant mission – to strengthen the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. I know I leave the agency in good hands with Dean Cameron, who I consider a mentor and friend.”
Cameron was appointed as head of the insurance department by former governor Butch Otter in 2015, and he’ll continue to serve in the role while in the interim position. He also served in the Idaho Senate for 25 years, during which he co-chaired JFAC, chaired the Health Care Task Force, Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee.
“Dean Cameron brings a wealth of experience and knowledge both in the legislative branch and the executive branch as well as the private sector. I have been fortunate to have Dean in my cabinet since I took office, and I appreciate him for stepping into this role after so many years of working together,” Little said in the release.
The governor will begin recruiting a permanent agency director in the spring of 2024.
This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press, read more on IdahoPress.com.
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