Posted: | April 19, 2017 08:28 AM |
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From: | Representative Seth M. Grove |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Establishing the Office of the Independent Medicaid Director |
During the current fiscal year, the Department of Human Services billion is currently over budget by $220 million despite having a budget over $11.5 billion. The escalation of costs within the Department is projected, by independent analysis, to grow by over $3 billion. The rapid increase of costs within the department is due to the growing cost of the state’s Medicaid program. In order to deal with this cost driver within budget, I plan to introduce legislation to create the Office of the Independent Medicaid Director. The Office of Independent Medicaid Director would operate within the Department of Human Services with the director being nominated by the Governor and approved by the Senate. However, to ensure the director is independent of partisan political forces, the Independent Medicaid Director will not serve at the pleasure of the governor. This makes the position similar to the Director of the Independent Fiscal Office and head of the Office of Open Records. In order to accomplish these goals which members on both sides of the aisle agree upon, the director is giving power to approve or disapprove all Medicaid expenditure in the budget and develop performance measures for those expenditures. Additionally, the Director and his office would be given the sole authority to develop waivers and submit them to the federal government to improve services. This being said, the waivers must be submitted in such a manner as not to reduce available federal funds. By establishing an independent office to handle and administer the state’s Medicaid Program, the Commonwealth can focus on improving individual care and reducing costs to taxpayers. Please join me and co-sponsor this legislation. Should you have any questions you can contact Jordan Grant by email at Jgrant@pahousegop.com or by phone at 717-767-3947. |
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Introduced as HB1354