1 Why did you go from being a pediatrician to the director of Mo HealthNet division in Missouri, a more administrative position?
worked every day with low-income and special needs children, one at a time, whose families struggled to access quality health services, and could not have done so without the support of the Medicaid program. My position allows me to advocate for improved quality and access to health care and personal services for our participants.
2 How has being a doctor prepared you for your current job?
Whether a doctor, a nurse, a mental health provider, or other, clinicians are trained to make decisions with the patient’s best interests at heart. Early education, prevention, and improvement of health status are at the core of Medicaid’s transformation to MO HealthNet.
3 Has it been a steep transition?
am fortunate to have a dedicated staff of experts within both MO HealthNet and Social Services to help guide me. The federal and state joint financing and administration of the Medicaid program, coupled with the complexities of the health care system, make every state’s Medicaid program a challenging, yet rewarding, administrative opportunity.
4 Why did you establish these town hall meetings?
he town hall meetings my staff and I are holding around the state are a great opportunity for us to learn from patients, providers, and advocates in the communities that we serve. We are hearing what works, what could work better, and what ideas people have for our program.
5 What is the most critical problem the Medicaid program in Missouri currently faces?
am most concerned about our healthcare workforce – the physicians, nurses, dentists and others who serve our patients. The numbers of nearly every category of provider in Missouri are threatened, even while our population ages and carries a higher burden of chronic disease. Fortunately there is an increasing awareness at both the federal and state level of these challenges, and policymakers are considering a variety of solutions.
