“The state Department of Social and Health Services has announced the appointment of James Wilson as assistant secretary for the Medical Assistance Administration.Wilson has served for the past year as director of the Community Services Division in the DSHS Economic Assistance Administration. He was formerly the deputy director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.Tom Bedell, acting assistant secretary for Medical Assistance, will remain as deputy assistant secretary for the administration.DSHS Secretary Lyle Quasim said Wilson has demonstrated leadership skills and set clear expectations for long term goals in customer service and strategic planning. He said Wilson would help other parts of the department understand and maximize Medicaid-based resources that may be available for people requiring assistance.Wilson is a former assistant director for the Oregon Department of Human Resources Division of Senior and Disabled Services, and was chief of the federal Health Care Financing Administration’s Medicaid Management Information Systems Branch for Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.”