SAN FRANCISCO - The California Health Facilities Financing Authority's executive director is leaving her post next month to serve as senior health advisor to State Controller John Chiang.
California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer announced her departure, effective July 21, on Tuesday.
Barbara Liebert, 47, has led the authority, which provides financial assistance to public and non-profit health care providers through loans, grants, and tax-exempt bonds, since 2007.
Lockyer, who chairs CHFFA, praised Liebert for her "effective and innovative" leadership, saying she exceeded expectations on every assignment.
During her tenure, Liebert and her team expanded CHFFA's efforts to provide low-cost financing to health care providers by improving and expanding their facilities, developed innovative ways to help hospitals and clinics survive the financial crisis, and successfully implemented the Investment in Mental Health Wellness Act of 2013.
The act established a competitive grant program to disburse funds to California counties or to their nonprofit or public agency designates in order to develop mental health crisis support programs. CHFFA approved the first round of funding from the act in April when it was awarded $75.3 million in grants.
Liebert will be replaced by Ronald Washington, 50, who will be acting executive director of CHFFA and will continue his duties as executive director of the California Educational Facilities Authority, which administers programs that provide tax-exempt financing to private, non-profit higher education institutions to construction facilities.
Lockyer thanked Washington, whom he called "a top professional," for taking on the extra duties.
In January, Lockyer will leave the treasurer's office after the full two terms permitted by California's term limits law, and Chiang is running to succeed him in November's election.
