REPUBLICAN LEADERS TURN BLIND EYE TO DHHS INVESTIGATION

Posted: March 23, 2012 | Senator Alfond, Senator Brannigan

AUGUSTA—Democratic State Senator Joe Brannigan requested an investigation into the operations at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). During today’s Legislative Council meeting, Republican lawmakers rejected Sen. Brannigan’s request.

 

 

“For months the leadership at DHHS has not been able to answer simple questions,” said Sen. Brannigan of Portland. “While the errors within the Department are troubling, what’s worse is the cover up of information. The administration willfully left lawmakers in the dark during a critical decision making time.”

 

 

The measure, a “Resolve, To Require the Office of Program Evaluation and Governmental Accountability to Conduct an Independent and Internal Audit of the Operations of the Department of Health and Human Services,” sought to address DHHS’s internal operations and communications with providers and the public to understand the extent and diversity of the problems. Additionally, Brannigan suggested that the OPEGA report include recommendations that will “cure” the problems within the Department.

 

 

Earlier this month, DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew revealed to the Appropriations and Financial Affairs (AFA) Committee that she had known about a “computer glitch” which allowed 19,000 ineligible MaineCare recipients to continue receiving health insurance since January 2012.

“A serious breach of trust has occurred. There is no confidence that we are getting all the information we need to make critical decisions,” said Sen. Brannigan. “Unless we understand, objectively, what is going on within that Department, I don’t understand how we can go forward.”

The Legislative Council voted party line 6 – 4 to table Brannigan’s measure.

“The people of Maine full expect transparency,” said Assistant Democratic Leader Justin Alfond of Portland, who also serves as a member of the Legislative Council. “It is disappointing that Republican lawmakers don’t share the same sense of urgency.”

Senator Brannigan has served a total of seven terms in the Maine Senate and formerly served seven terms in the Maine House. He is currently on the Insurance and Financial Affairs Committee. He is a former Senate and House chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee. He also served as the chair of the Health and Human Services Committee.