NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam has named Will Cromer as the new chief of staff for TennCare, the state's expanded Medicaid program.

Cromer has been Haslam's policy director since he took office in 2011, where he has spearheaded the governor's strategic initiatives, developed legislation and assisted with developing Tennessee's annual spending plan.

Cromer began working for Haslam during the 2010 gubernatorial campaign, in which he helped develop the candidate's platform, prepared him for debates and assisted in strategic messaging.

The move to TennCare comes following the departure of director Darin Gordon, who announced earlier this year that he would leave after a decade in charge. Haslam named Wendy Long, TennCare's previous chief medical officer, to replace Gordon.

The $10.5 billion TennCare program covers 1.5 million people, or about one in five Tennesseans.