SANTA FE – Today, New Mexico Department of Health (NMHealth) Secretary Patrick Allen announced he has named LeAnn Behrens to the position of Deputy Secretary.

Behrens started at NMHealth in April of this year as the department's Director of Operations. In this role, she has been deeply engaged in the implementation of the enterprise performance management system focusing on hiring processes, operational performance and the development of health programs to drive improved health among New Mexicans.

In addition, she has worked on the preparation of the DOH budget proposal for FY26, the procurement of consulting services to streamline financial operations within the agencies and partnerships with Medicaid Managed Care organizations to cooperate on things like nicotine reduction programs. Her expertise in process improvement and business efficiency models have been foundational to her work at DOH.

"I am very excited to have LeAnn in this new role," said Sec. Allen. "In her short time here at NMHealth she has proven to be an invaluable asset in helping me steer the organization toward our goal of making New Mexico the healthiest state by 2040."

Behrens has extensive experience in the healthcare arena, having worked in a number of roles for Anthem Health for more than 20 years. From 2015-2019, she served as President of Anthem's West Region Medicaid, where she was responsible for all health plan operations and financial performance. She spent a significant part of her time at Anthem in roles, including president and chief operating officer, focusing on the Texas Medicaid Health Plan.

Prior to her time at Anthem, Behrens served as the Assistant Director of Education and Research at the Women's Center of Tarrant County in Fort Woth, Texas. There she developed and implemented education and training programs focusing on sexual abuse, sexual harassment and partner violence.

Behrens retired from Anthem in 2019 but returned to the workforce to help respond to the teacher shortage that followed the pandemic. From 2022-2023, she served as a Special Education Teacher for Capitol High School in Santa Fe where she was responsible for a small self-contained classroom of eight students.

Behrens, a Santa Fe resident since 2020, where she lives with her husband, David, and their four cats. She volunteers at the International Folk Art Museum's annual market and continues to be engaged, at the board level, with several organizations that provide services to women and children dealing with housing instability.