Where’s the Governor?
Not to long ago State Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Carmen Hooker-Odom claimed she was going to save taxpayers millions by hiring a new computer vender to process the state’s Medicare claims.
Today the new vender is a year behind schedule, the system is not in place, the state is in a contract dispute with the vender, and instead of saving taxpayers money Mrs. Hooker-Odom has cost them millions.
Now, the News and Observer (8-19-06) reports Mrs. Hooker-Odom’s Department has mishandled $151 million in Medicaid claims – which have to be repaid to the federal government. A good chunk of the money will come from taxpayers.
That’s nearly $200 million in miscues by Mrs. Hooker-Odom’s department but, of course, ‘the buck’ doesn’t stop with her. It stops with Governor Easley. You’d expect $200 million in problems at his Department of Health and Human Services would get the Governor’s attention. Unfortunately, the status quo seems to suit Governor Easley just fine.
Where’s the Governor?
Not to long ago State Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Carmen Hooker-Odom claimed she was going to save taxpayers millions by hiring a new computer vender to process the state’s Medicare claims.
Today the new vender is a year behind schedule, the system is not in place, the state is in a contract dispute with the vender, and instead of saving taxpayers money Mrs. Hooker-Odom has cost them millions.
Now, the News and Observer (8-19-06) reports Mrs. Hooker-Odom’s Department has mishandled $151 million in Medicaid claims – which have to be repaid to the federal government. A good chunk of the money will come from taxpayers.
That’s nearly $200 million in miscues by Mrs. Hooker-Odom’s department but, of course, ‘the buck’ doesn’t stop with her. It stops with Governor Easley. You’d expect $200 million in problems at his Department of Health and Human Services would get the Governor’s attention. Unfortunately, the status quo seems to suit Governor Easley just fine.