Carcieri seeks Medicaid overhaul task force applicants
12:15 PM Fri, Mar 06, 2009 | Permalink
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The Carcieri administration is calling for "interested parties" to serve on a task force to oversee his overhaul of Rhode Island's Medicaid programs. "Gary D. Alexander, acting secretary of the Office of Health and Human Services, will appoint members of the task force ... who are knowledgeable about the needs of these populations and the services currently provided to them," reads a statement released this morning. The statement calls for applications from interested parties to "provide input on the planning and implementation of Medicaid reforms through the waiver," which took effect in January and spans through the end of 2013. Specifically, the administration wants people representing these populations: • Children and youth with special health care needs There's just one problem: The oversight bill that would legally create the task force is stalled in the General Assembly. Each chamber passed its own version of the oversight bill nearly a month ago, but it won't become law until one version passes both chambers. At the time, the oversight legislation was hailed at the time as a necessary safeguard to protect the state's 180,000 Medicaid recipients from the most ambitious redesign of social services in Rhode Island history. Spokesmen for the House and Senate are checking to learn the cause of the holdup. In the meantime, the governor's spokeswoman Amy Kempe said Carcieri is simply trying to be proactive. "We know there will be oversight legislation; basically we're gearing up," she said. "We're starting to collect names from the community and stakeholders knowing that the oversight legislation is pending and will be passed." But because the bill hasn't become law, it's unclear how many people will serve on the task force, what their specific duties will be, or whether they will have any legal authority to influence implementation of the Medicaid changes, known as the "global Medicaid waiver." Those interested in serving on the task force should send an e-mail or letter by March 13 to: Gary D. Alexander, Secretary 
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AT WHAT POINT IS EVERYONE GOING TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE BRAIN POWER TO HANDLE THIS TASK - AND EVEN IF WE DID, NOW IS NOT THE TIME MORONS ON SMITH HILL!
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