Schwarz to lead MassHealth as agency braces for federal overhaul
By Alison Kuznitz | June 3, 2026
As MassHealth braces for massive federal cuts and prepares to negotiate a new federal waiver that gives the state flexibility over how care is delivered, the agency will gain a familiar leader next week.
Dr. Ryan Schwarz will become the state’s Medicaid director and assistant secretary for MassHealth on Monday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah announced Wednesday evening. Schwarz, a practicing internal medicine and pediatrics physician in Chelsea, has led MassHealth’s Office of Accountable Care and Behavioral Health since last April.
Schwarz replaces Undersecretary Mike Levine, who’s stepping down next week to take a city government job in San Francisco.
“Dr. Schwarz has a tremendous record as both a community health center physician and a health care policy expert,” Mahaniah said. “His demonstrated leadership as a valued member of the MassHealth executive team and his commitment to delivering accessible, high-quality health care for the people of Massachusetts make him a terrific candidate for helping Massachusetts navigate these challenging times for our Medicaid program.”
MassHealth, which dominates the state budget, is expected to receive roughly $22 billion in fiscal 2027. Starting in January, MassHealth will be responsible for federal policy changes that tighten eligibility with new work requirements. The agency is also wrestling with thorny financial decisions, such as trimming state spending on the ballooning personal care attendant program.
At MassHealth, Schwarz has helped the state move away from a fee-for-service payment structure and toward accountable care organizations, state health officials said. He also oversaw MassHealth’s 1115 Demonstration waiver with the federal government, which expires in December 2027 and which the state has leveraged to invest in primary care, behavioral health services, nutrition services and other care for vulnerable residents.
During the pandemic, Schwarz was the clinical lead for the state’s COVID-19 Response Command Center. Schwarz, who’s also worked as a healthcare and technical advisor, earned both his medical degree and MBA from Yale.
“This is certainly a challenging moment for Medicaid here in Massachusetts and across the country, but Massachusetts has always been a leader in health care and I look forward to working with our exceptional partners to come together, problem solve, and work to make the right services and supports available to residents who need them throughout the Commonwealth,” he said.