MALLOY REAPPOINTS DMHAS COMMISSIONER PATRICIA REHMER

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor-Elect Dan Malloy today announced that he has reappointed Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services Commissioner Patricia Rehmer. Rehmer has more than 25 years experience with public and private behavioral health agencies. She has served as Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) since November 2009 after first serving as DMHAS Deputy Commissioner from 2004 through 2009.

"Commissioner Rehmer has been a leader in the fields of mental health and addiction services throughout her career, and I'm pleased that she and I will be working together to help those citizens in Connecticut who need our help the most," said Governor-Elect Malloy. "Particularly because the population she serves relies on the continuity of service and programs DMHAS provides, I'm glad that she and I have a shared vision for the department and will continue her tenure uninterrupted."

"I'm grateful that Governor-Elect Malloy has allowed me to continue in my position at the Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services," said Commissioner Rehmer. "I appreciate Governor-Elect Malloy's confidence in me as he takes office and begins to implement his own vision and ideas for the state. Working together I believe that we will continue to provide these essential services for those in our state very much in need. In these difficult times, we cannot forget those who need our help the most."

During her tenure as Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner Rehmer has worked in partnership with individuals in recovery, families, advocacy groups, and service providers to ensure that individuals have a meaningful life in the community. Commissioner Rehmer has fostered strong collaborations with other state agencies, including working with the Department of Children and Families in establishing a Young Adult Services program for children transitioning from the children's mental health system to the adult system. She had oversight for the Mental Health Transformation grant, a 13.7 million dollar grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which included partnerships with 14 state agencies and advocacy communities, to transform mental health services in Connecticut.

Commissioner Rehmer also placed much emphasis on maximizing federal resources, including leading conversion of the State Administered General Assistance Behavioral Health Program, in partnership with the Department of Social Services, to the Medicaid Low Income Adult expansion. This conversion went into effect on April 1, 2010, with Connecticut being the first state in the country to implement. Additionally, Commissioner Rehmer led DMHAS' implementation of the Medicaid Rehabilitation Option for individuals in group homes and the Home and Community Based Waiver to move individuals with behavioral health disorders who do not need nursing home care into the community.

Commissioner Rehmer originally joined DMHAS in 1999 as the Chief Executive Officer of the Capitol Region Mental Health Center, the Local Mental Health Agency serving the greater Hartford area. She began her career at the Institute of Living, where, over a period of seventeen years, she held a variety of positions, including Head Nurse, Program Director for Partial Hospital, Director of Adult Programs, and Clinical Director of Operations.

Commissioner Rehmer's clinical responsibilities included inpatient, outpatient, partial and residential services for Children/Adolescents, Adults, and Geriatric patients.

Commissioner Rehmer earned a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from Skidmore College and a Master's in Nursing from St. Joseph's College. She is a member of the American Council of Healthcare Executives.