When Eunice Medina joined a Zoom call on February 25, to be interviewed for this story, she was a little out of breath having just left a meeting, jubilant about how the day was going and eager to share a little about her career trajectory to Interim Director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS).
Two days after the interview, South Carolina senators were expected to vote and make her role official. Her goal was to meet all 46 senators before that vote. Medina had met all but 10, and on her interview day alone she talked with 15.
Prior to the interim director role, Medina had served as the SCDHHS’s chief of staff and deputy director of programs since June 2021.
Medina has extensive healthcare experience including more than 20 years with Medicaid policy and operations. Prior to her current role with SCDHHS, she served as a bureau chief with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration where she managed Florida’s 18-plus Medicaid managed care plans and worked extensively with the state’s home- and community-based services waiver programs.
“There is a lot that we are doing here that Florida went through,” Medina said. “We can leverage that. I love talking about ways to address the most minute problem as well as big visionary goals.”
Medina is the kind of leader who appreciates knowing details. “I want to understand all the nuances so that I can position myself to help as much as possible. I love being able to share what has worked for me in the past to make things easier and help identify possible pitfalls.”
“I work hard and push myself a lot,” she added. “I expect that from my staff too. We all have to use our time wisely because there is never enough time to meet all needs.”
Over the years Medina said she has enjoyed working in places that are free of internal silos.
“The go-getters are the people who don’t have a ‘that it is another division’s responsibility’ mentality,” Medina explained. “We don’t have the luxury of saying, ‘I’m going to stay in my own lane.’”
Medina’s leadership style is steeped in her family history. “My parents, Victor and Rosario, live in Florida and they come from El Salvador and Honduras,” she said. “Ours was a nothing comes for free, you have to earn your way up kind of family. And my parents are living testimony that you should only use outside resources when necessary.”
Medina draws support from her SCDHHS team and the providers they work with to support SC Medicaid members. She also leans on colleagues and mentors with whom she worked in Florida, as well as from the new connections that she has made in South Carolina.
This commitment to maintaining relationships over the years has continued to provide valuable perspective as Medina has taken on new roles. “I have worked in Medicaid for my whole career, and I started that career while in college,” Medina said.
“All the people I’ve learned from and who have worked with me still cheer me on and I value their mentorship and perspective. Several have watched me speak at hearings. We all continue to learn from each other and support each other.”
Perhaps the biggest challenge yet? Being nominated for a role by the governor that requires confirmation by the South Carolina Senate. “I’ve never been heavily involved with political aspects of my work,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed being behind the scenes executing others’ visions.”
So far, the politics and the public speaking have been “intense and exciting,” Medina explained. “I look forward to growing in that space because I can help the agency get others to understand why we do things and just how much we do.”
All these points are made by a woman who used to consciously tame involuntary movements when she did public speaking in high school. “And last week I spoke in front of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee,” she said.
“I have learned that as long as you know what you are talking about and you are passionate, fear goes away,” she added.
Medina recognizes that South Carolina has a “fragmented health system.” She is poring over as much information as possible — about the Medicaid delivery systems, about legislation and regulations that are put forth — all with an eye on creating efficiencies to minimize burden to providers and members.
“My big, big vision is to simplify the process for everyone,” Medina said. “The people who work for me, the people who receive and provide services. There are many opportunities to streamline.”
Fast forward to the vote count two days after Medina’s interview for SCMA Magazine.
The tally? A unanimous yes.
The new chapter in Medina’s lifelong devotion to health and human services has officially begun.
BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
Medicaid Enrollment: 1.1 million full benefit members
Total Recurring SCDHHS budget: $12.4B (State and Federal)
FY 2025 Recurring State funds: $2,178,327,876
In the last three years SCDHHS has implemented:
• 41 rate increases.
• 15 new covered services.
• 13 coverage increases to existing services.
