TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The job of inspector general for the state’s managed care Medicaid program has been open for nearly a year, but Kansas health officials insist they are working to fill the position.
The post has been empty since Phil Hermanson resigned in June 2014, just months after he was hired to lead KanCare, an umbrella program for three private managed health care companies. The lack of a leader for the $3 billion program drew attention last week from lawmakers, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported (https://bit.ly/1bRWkKw ).
In early 2013, United Healthcare, Sunflower Health Plan and Amerigroup were given three-year contracts, with options for extensions, to cover the state’s Medicaid enrollees. The inspector general is supposed to oversee those companies to watch for potential abuse or mismanagement.
Hermanson, a former state lawmaker, was appointed in April 2014 by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which did not announce the appointment. He began work as an interim director before he was confirmed by the Kansas Senate, but resigned that June after questions were raised about his lack of qualifications, a previous bankruptcy and a 2009 no-contest plea for driving under the influence.
The agency is again recruiting for the position after several delays, health department deputy secretary Aaron Dunkel told the KanCare Oversight Committee on Tuesday. He said multiple candidates have been interviewed and two turned the position down.
“You’ll excuse me if I’m somewhat skeptical about your commitment to the inspector general job,” said Rep. Jim Ward, D-Wichita. “Make me feel comfortable that you’re really committed to filling this position.”
Dunkel said the search had been hampered by the salary of the job. He noted proposed legislation that would move the inspector general job out of the state’s civil service system and into an unclassified position, which would allow a higher salary. The legislation passed out of committee in February but hasn’t advanced further. Some lawmakers also had suggested that the position be eliminated.
“We held (off) recruiting on that position for a while. Now it looks like that position won’t be (in) transition and also won’t be eliminated, we will go ahead and repost the position for hiring,” Dunkel said.
Health department spokeswoman Sara Belfry said she could not provide a time frame for when a candidate might be hired.
___
Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, https://www.cjonline.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.