Stephen says politics had no role in HHS

http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/215187/stephen-says-politics-had-no-role-in-hhs

Please scroll down to the section;Cost Cutting Campaign-4th paragraph which states John Stephen cut the substance abuse budget while he was DHHS Commissioner, yet DCYF who worked under him, were responsible for the court order of medical methadone
detox in Dec. of 2005, for my daughter, in order to regain custody of her
daughter. Because of John Stephens budget cut's, there was NO Medical
Methadone detox programs in the State of NH, which DCYF should have
known, before the recommendation was made. My daughter was court-ordered
into a program that didn't exist, in an effort to make sure her newborn daughter
was NEVER returned. And she Never was returned.


Stephen says politics had no role in HHS
Ex-commissioner's style questioned
By Daniel Barrick / Monitor staff
September 5, 2010 UPDATED 19 SECONDS AGO

When John Stephen assumed the top job at the state Department of Health and Human Services, one year after a failed run for Congress, he assured his employees he was leaving politics behind. His new job was about following the letter of the law, Stephen said, not partisanship.

"I wanted them to know I didn't wear an R, a D or an I," Stephen said, referring to Republican, Democrat and independent labels.

But in his four years on the job, Stephen regularly clashed with lawmakers and the Democratic governor he's now seeking to replace. Stephen's critics saw his political ambition driving his decisions as commissioner and questioned whether he had his eye on a future run for elected office. Stephen, however, says his only fights were on behalf of taxpayers.

As he runs for governor this year, Stephen, a Republican, puts his term as health commissioner at the center of his campaign. He says the record shows he saved the state money and was innovative. Many Republicans recall his tenure fondly. Some observers, however, remember the period mostly for the unusual rancor between Stephen and key lawmakers and the state's health community - and an atmosphere that often made it difficult for him to advance his policy agenda.

"When John Stephen managed his department within budget, he was following the Legislature's policies, but he was always perceived as somewhat uncaring," said state Rep. Neal Kurk, a Weare Republican. "And that just isn't true. But that was the perception, because he accepted the financial constraints and didn't wear his heart on his sleeve."



Cost-cutting campaign
Stephen wasn't the first choice to take over the Department of Health and Human Services when he was appointed in 2003 by then-Gov. Craig Benson. Nick Vailas, whom Benson had originally appointed, resigned because of perceived ethics conflicts.

Stephen struck many as an odd fit for the job, considering his lack of experience in the health care field. He had worked as a prosecutor at the attorney general's office and as the deputy commissioner at the state Department of Safety. But Benson described Stephen's lack of expertise as a plus.

"Sometimes it's better to come from the outside and not be so tuned in to the industry," Benson said at the time.

It was a steep learning curve for the new commissioner. Within weeks of taking the job, Stephen was told to draw up a plan to cut $20 million from his budget.
"Stephen did so, in part by trimming payments to hospitals, mental health centers, and alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs." The task was an early example of Stephen's term as commissioner. While some lawmakers praised Stephen's approach, others said he seemed uninterested in the effects the cuts to services would have on the people who used them.