Our Team

Governmental Policy & Legislation

Ben Terrell

Ben Terrell

(573) 751-6003

The activities of the Office of Governmental Policy and Legislation include coordinating the development, review and tracking of public health-, health- and senior services-related state legislation. The office also reviews federal legislation for its impact on department policy and programs and serves as the departmental liaison between elected officials, other state agencies and constituent groups.

Office of Public Information

Lisa Cox

Lisa Cox

(573) 751-6062

The Office of Public Information (OPI) coordinates all public information released by the Department of Health and Senior Services, including media contacts and information in response to inquiries from other agencies and the public. This office also generates department publications, videos and promotes department activities. OPI also oversees the department’s website.

Media Request Form

Division of Administration

Chad Ridder, Director

Chad Ridder, Director, Division of Administration

(573) 751-6012

The Division of Administration provides a variety of support services for the Director’s Office and the programmatic divisions of the department. Services include budget administration; grant and contract administration; accounting and procurement functions; internal audit; maintenance of the inventory of physical assets; warehouse, delivery and mailroom services; and building lease management.

Division of Cannabis Regulation

Amy Moore, Director

Amy Moore, Director, Division of Cannabis Regulation

(866) 219-0165

The Division of Cannabis Regulation implements, regulates, and oversees the state’s medical and adult-use cannabis programs to create safe access to marijuana for qualifying patients and consumers. Regulation authority is provided through Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution and 19 CSR 100.

Programs

  • Section for Patient and Application Services
  • Section for Compliance and Enforcement

Division of Community & Public Health

Lori Brenneke, Director

Lori Brenneke, Director, Division of Community & Public Health

(573) 751-6080

The Division of Community and Public Health is responsible for supporting and operating more than 100 programs and initiatives addressing public health that promotes the safety and well-being to all citizens and visitors of the state of Missouri. Specifically, but not inclusive, the division has programs to address chronic and communicable disease control and prevention, partners with local public health agencies to ensure timely and appropriate responses to public health risks and conditions, ensures food and water safety as well as protection of health from environmental conditions, improves health through injury prevention, nutrition programs, immunizations, dental health, health promotion, newborn screening, initiatives to improve primary care and rural health access and provides vital record services.

Programs

  • Center for Local Public Health Services
  • Office of Dental Health
  • Office of Epidemiology
  • Office of Financial and Budget Services
  • Office of Minority Health and Health Equity
  • Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
  • Office on Women’s Health
  • Bureau of Cancer and Chronic Disease Control
  • Bureau of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention
  • Bureau of Community Food and Nutrition Assistance
  • Bureau of Community Health and Wellness
  • Bureau of Data Modernization & Interoperability
  • Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology
  • Bureau of Environmental Health Services
  • Bureau of Genetics and Health Childhood
  • Bureau of Health Care Analysis and Data Dissemination
  • Bureau of HIV, STI and Hepatitis
  • Bureau of Immunizations
  • Bureau of Vital Records
  • Bureau of WIC and Nutrition Services
  • Healthcare Associated Infections/Antimicrobial Resistance Program

Division of Regulation & Licensure

William M. Koebel, Interim Director

William M. Koebel, Interim Director, Division of Regulation & Licensure

(573) 751-8535

The Division of Regulation and Licensure issues state licenses for a variety of entities providing services that impact health and safety. Division staff determine compliance with state and/or federal regulations through inspection of the premises, care and services.

Programs

  • Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU)
  • Section for Health Standards and Licensure
  • Bureau of Ambulatory Care
  • Bureau of Diagnostic Services
  • Bureau of Home Care and Rehabilitative Standards
  • Bureau of Hospital Standards
  • Section for Long-Term Care Regulation
  • Health Education and Training Unit
  • Licensure and Certification Unit
  • Quality Assurance and Education Unit
  • Regulation and Compliance Unit
  • Section for Regulatory Standards and Registration
  • Board of Nursing Home Administrators
  • Certificate of Need Program
  • Supplemental Health Care Services Agency Regulation
  • Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
  • Bureau of Emergency Medical Service
  • Time Critical Diagnosis

Division of Senior & Disability Services

Melanie Highland, Director

Melanie Highland, Director, Division of Senior & Disability Services

(573) 526-3626

The Division of Senior and Disability Services plays a crucial role as the state unit on aging and is the primary agency that oversees, monitors, and assures the health and safety of seniors and individuals with disabilities receiving long-term care in their home or community as an alternative to facility-based care.

Programs

  • Section of Adult Protective Services
  • Section of Home and Community Based Services
  • Bureau of Senior Programs
  • Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

The State Public Health Laboratory

Adam Perkins, Director

Adam Perkins, Director, State Public Health Laboratory

(573) 751-3334

The Missouri State Public Health Laboratory (MSPHL) is dedicated to promoting, protecting and
partnering for health by delivering quality public health laboratory services. These services include laboratory testing for infectious diseases, genetic disorders and environmental concerns, both in support of public health programs and as a reference laboratory performing confirmatory or specialized procedures. The MSPHL provides scientific expertise and managerial leadership to meet the challenges in clinical and environmental laboratory disciplines and in the development of public health policy. The MSPHL is comprised of two locations; the main laboratory resides in Jefferson City and its Breath Alcohol program is located in Poplar Bluff.

Programs

  • Administration (includes Fiscal and Quality Systems)
  • Breath Alcohol Unit (Poplar Bluff Branch Lab)
  • Chemistry Unit
  • Environmental Bacteriology Unit
  • Immunology Unit
  • Laboratory Preparedness Education and Safety (LPES)
  • Laboratory Support Services (includes Mailroom)
  • Informatics Unit
  • Microbiology Unit
  • Molecular Unit
  • Newborn Screening Unit
  • Virology Unit