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Gov. Henry McMaster announced Sept. 16, 2024, that South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) Director Robert M. Kerr will retire from his position, effective Nov. 1, 2024. 

Kerr, who served as director for over three years, was nominated by McMaster in April 2021. He was unanimously confirmed by the South Carolina Senate on April 20, 2021.

"Director Robby Kerr is truly a remarkable leader and a dedicated public servant, whose counsel and vision have been relied upon and trusted by governors, legislators, and colleagues alike," McMaster said. 

McMaster added, "He has transformed and modernized our state’s Medicaid program and has led efforts to improve service, efficiency, and health outcomes at agencies across state government. South Carolina is a better place today because of the contributions and accomplishments of Director Kerr. He will be missed." 

In his resignation letter to McMaster, Kerr highlighted several major achievements during his tenure: "Under your leadership and guidance, staff have made transformative changes for the state. In behavioral health, they have doubled the number of school based counselors, invested over $45 million in establishing innovative EmPath crisis stabilization units within hospitals, and made historic collaborative investments of over $100 million establishing regional inpatient behavioral health hubs.

He added, “They have stabilized the Medicaid budget while substantially improving provider rates and expanding service arrays. Finally, staff have developed and are executing a comprehensive modernization plan to improve the agency's enterprise and enrollment systems." 

Medicaid is South Carolina's grant-in-aid program by which the federal and state governments share the cost of providing medical care for needy persons who have low income.

The program was authorized by Title XIX of the Social Security Act that was signed into law by the President on July 30, 1965. Congress has continually changed the Medicaid Program since it was created. South Carolina began participation in the Medicaid Program in July 1968.

The department is the administrator of Healthy Connections, South Carolina’s Medicaid Program. Medicaid provides health coverage for eligible residents of South Carolina, including:

• Children.
• Parent and Caretaker Relatives.
• Pregnant Women.
• People Over the Age of 65.
• People with Disabilities.
• Children with Developmental Delays.
• Breast and Cervical Cancer Patients.