Medicaid On! :: FITSNews

Medicaid On! :: FITSNews


There may be no use crying over “spilt’ milk,” but when it comes to the root cause of a $225 million Medicaid deficit, S.C. lawmakers are at each other’s throats … and the stakes are higher than ever.
At the center of the storm is the explosive revelation – first reported on FITS – that former Gov. Mark Sanford’s office instructed its Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) director to lie to state lawmakers about the true size of the state’s Medicaid budget.
Specifically, former DHHS director Emma Forkner testified under oath Wednesday morning that she was ordered by Scott English, chief of staff to former Gov. Mark Sanford, to deliberately conceal the true rate of growth of the state’s Medicaid program.
English has denied Forkner’s claims. In fact, he told the Charleston Post and Courier on Wednesday that he gave the “green light” the only time she requested permission to ask lawmakers for additional funds.
Forkner was appointed by Sanford in July 2007. A native of Dillon, S.C., she is a former Air Force nurse who rose through the military’s medical ranks before becoming a health care researcher and policy analyst.
Not surprisingly, Forkner’s testimony is being used by Republicans and Democrats alike in the S.C. Senate to oppose government restructuring reforms that would give S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley expanded authority over her own branch of government. This executive authority is currently splintered via a maze of unaccountable bureaucracies (many of which are directly controlled by the legislature).
“This is all about government restructuring and the legislature driving up health care spending by accepting stimulus dollars and meddling with the executive branch,” said S.C. Sen. Tom Davis (R-Beaufort), a long-time Sanford ally.
He’s right …
In fact, as we’ve noted on several occasions state lawmakers have repeatedly blocked efforts initiated by the executive branch to cut Medicaid costs. Lawmakers have also refused to let DHHS set provider rates – making South Carolina the only state in the nation operating under this restriction. On top of that, lawmakers have also raided the DHHS budget over the last three years to the tune of $500 million – spreading that money around to other state agencies.
Clearly, there is no shortage of legislative blame when it comes to our state’s soaring health care budget – just as there was no shortage of legislative blame for the failed management of the old Employment Security Commission, which was run (into the ground) by three former lawmakers appointed by their legislative peers.
Having said all that, though, lawmakers do have a valid point – particularly if they can prove that they were deliberately misled by the Sanford administration. Sources tell FITS that lawmakers “smell blood in the water” and plan on holding hearings into the matter. S.C. Sen. Jakie Knotts (RINO-Lexington) and others have also demanded that subpoenas be issued for English and other former Sanford staffers.
Obviously a key player in the drama will be S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley – who earlier this month voted to let DHHS run a $100 million deficit.
Will Haley side with lawmakers in an effort to distance herself from the responsibility for the Medicaid deficit?
Or will she defend Sanford in an effort to keep lawmakers from blocking her restructuring goals?
We’ll have to see …
In the meantime, this year’s $225 million deficit is projected to explode in the coming fiscal year to more than $600 million. That’s due in large part to the fact that South Carolina has added more than 100,000 people to its Medicaid rolls since the recession began.
Currently, 975,000 South Carolinians – or one out of every five people in the state – receives services through Medicaid. Meanwhile, 52 percent of live births in South Carolina are now covered by Medicaid – a number which is also on its way up.
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Tags: Emma Forkner, Mark Sanford, medicaid, Nikki Haley, sc medicaid, SC Senate, South Carolina Governor, south carolina medicaid, South Carolina Politics, tom davis