A longtime Florida social services official, LuMarie Polivka-West, was appointed Friday to head the state office that oversees nursing homes and other health care institutions. She replaces Connie Cheren, who was fired by the administration of Gov. Lawton Chiles.
Polivka-West has worked for the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services for 15 years.
Most recently, she headed the HRS office that formulates indigent health care policy for the state.
She also chairs an HRS work group on nursing home admission rules, and formerly administered the state's community services for the aging, according to a news release issued Friday.
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