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November 20, 2013

Penn. official who cut Medicaid to counsel Maine

Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services will employ a former Pennsylvania official who cut that state’s Medicaid rolls to review Maine’s Medicaid program and its potential expansion under the Affordable Care Act.

The Portland Press Herald reported the $925,000 contract with The Alexander Group of Rhode Island will be led by Gary Alexander, who previously served as Pennsylvania’s welfare chief. Alexander supported policy initiatives that eliminated health care coverage for 130,000 people, including 89,000 children.

The hire of Alexander drew criticism from Democratic leaders who put Medicaid expansion back on the agenda when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

The paper reported Alexander previously consulted with Arkansas on its Medicaid program. In July, he issued recommendations that included boosting fraud detection, identifying and “intensively” managing the top 100 high-cost Medicaid recipients and scrutinizing state employees’ health benefits plans. Some of Alexander’s recommendations echo those of Gov. Paul LePage, particularly regarding welfare fraud.

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