LINCOLN — Reducing the number of children in out-of-home care, implementing new Medicaid computer systems and creating a new quality management process for developmental disability services are among the priorities for the State Department of Health and Human Services this year.
Gov. Pete Ricketts joined top HHS officials Thursday to release the department’s second business plan and note the achievements of the first plan.
“We’re very pleased about the progress we’ve made on last year’s business plan,” the governor said. “We had a lot of great successes ... but we want to have a culture of continuous improvement.”
In the fiscal year that ended June 30, HHS completed 19 of the 25 goals set out in the first business plan and made progress on the rest.
The new plan sets out 20 priorities, along with specific steps and dates for achieving each.
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The priorities fall into five key areas: integrating services, promoting independence, focusing on prevention, leveraging technology and increasing operating efficiencies.
HHS Chief Executive Officer Courtney Phillips said each goal will result in measurable improvements and continue a commitment to be accountable and transparent.
She praised the HHS team for its efforts during the past year.
“Our work is to better work together and we’re doing that every day for a common shared purpose,” Phillips said.
She said 13 priorities represent a continuation of first year goals and seven address new areas. Each is a “heavy lift” for HHS employees rather than an easily attainable goal, she said.
Among the new priorities:
» Turn the Beatrice State Developmental Center into a resource for many types of people with developmental disabilities. This includes offering crisis intervention and respite services while helping expand community-based services.
» Work toward a system of managed care for Medicaid patients needing long-term care, such as frail elderly and disabled people. The goal is to help people stay out of nursing homes and other facilities.
» Expand pilot programs aimed at helping families stay together and become more self-sufficient. One pilot helps people getting food assistance to find better jobs. Another helps families getting welfare benefits eliminate barriers to sustainable employment.
» Replace the 40-year-old Medicaid claims system with a data analytics system. Implement a new Medicaid system to handle eligibility and enrollment.
» Increase community-based behavioral health services for children, youths and families while reducing inpatient and residential services.
» Reduce the number of problems found during an annual audit of federally funded HHS programs. The goal is to ensure past problems get corrected properly.
martha.stoddard@owh.com, 402-473-9583
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