Discussions of new Medicaid agency heat up

Aug. 11, 2006 - OCSEA has been following the work of the Medicaid Administrative Study Council, a group formed in 2005 to look at the possibility of creating a single state Medicaid agency, separate from ODJFS.

But what appeared to be a leisurely pace to discussions seems abruptly to have been put on a fast track, with one subcommittee already sending out recommendations.

The recommendations include the creation of a unified budget for services to Medicaid-eligible populations who are aged, blind and disabled (ABD) and the creation of a new Division for Aged and Disabled within the new Medicaid agency.

For OCSEA members, the proposal sounds all too familiar. ODJFS members still remember the disaster created by the merger of OBES and Human Services. “With talks of yet another change in the system, it’s clear what we’ve known all along: it didn’t make sense to merge the two agencies to begin with,” said ODJFS Assembly President Tommy Jones.

The 2000 merger was disorganized, JFS offices eventually closed and a clunky phone system was substituted for one-on-one personal contact.

“Services were definitely reduced as a result of the merger,” said Jones. About 25 one-stop centers were eventually closed.

In addition, concerns are being raised that a new Medicaid agency may use the opportunity to take away responsibility for delivering services from other agencies. Currently, services to ABD populations are administered by ODMR/DD, MH, Aging and RSC which then either provide the service, contract it out or delegate it to a local authority.

At a recent meeting, ODMR/DD Director Ken Ritchey raised concerns that the recommendations do not ensure that services will be delegated to current providing agencies like his.

“The function of operating the Developmental Centers needs to remain in the department of MR/DD,” said OCSEA Assembly President Monty Blanton. “We are the ones who have the expertise and the institutional knowledge needed to ensure we remain licensed and certified.”

Another component of the discussions has been on the consolidation and possible contracting out of those who perform claims duties and IT functions.

Final recommendations are supposed to be submitted by Dec. 31, but it is unclear whether they will carry much weight given the uncertainty of the November elections. OCSEA will continue to keep members updated.