Posted: | December 2, 2020 01:27 PM |
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From: | Representative Seth M. Grove |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Office of 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. |
Introduced as HB2067