From: Whipple, Deb (GOV)
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 5:40 PM
Subject: What the Governor is Talking About Today
What the Governor’s Talking about Today
Friday, February 19, 2010
 
Governor Issues Executive Order to Further Fight Fraud, Waste, Abuse in Health Services Programs
 
The governor today issued Executive Order 2010-1 to further fight fraud, waste and abuse in state health services programs by establishing the Office of Health Services Inspector General.  The office will be an independent and autonomous entity within the Department of Community Health and is one of the 29 government reforms outlined by the governor in January to transform Michigan government.
 
The Office of Health Services Inspector General will work to prevent, detect and investigate fraud, waste and abuse in the state’s Medicaid, mental health, MIChild and Children’s Special Health Care Services programs.  The health services inspector general will be appointed by the governor.
 
Duties of the Office of Health Services Inspector General include:
 
•  Soliciting, receiving and investigating complaints related to fraud, waste and abuse in health services programs
•  Assuming the Department of Community Health’s duties under federal law with respect to fraud, waste and abuse for the administration of health services programs in the state
•  Seeking out fraudulent billing practices of providers and developing techniques and procedures for detecting suspect billing patterns
•  Recommending to the governor and the director of the Department of Community Health policies that will prevent and better detect fraud, waste and abuse in health services programs
 
Pending legislative review, Executive Order 2010-1 will take effect October 1, 2010.
 
Key messages:
 
•  Although the Department of Community Health has been successful in fighting fraud, waste and abuse, these responsibilities now will be consolidated in the Office of Health Services Inspector General along with an increased focus on specific auditing and fraud prevention goals.
•  The inspector general will be an independent watchdog whose top priority will be safeguarding taxpayer dollars.
 
Governor Thanks Obama Administration for Federal Funding to Help Prevent Foreclosures
 
The governor issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s announcement today that Michigan and four other states hit hard by the foreclosure crisis will receive $1.5 billion in funding for innovative measures to help homeowners:
 
“We are thankful the Obama administration continues to recognize the many economic challenges facing Michigan.  These funds will help struggling Michigan homeowners avoid the devastation of foreclosure and allow families to remain together in their homes.  Protecting families during these tough economic times is one of our top priorities, and we’re grateful for this assistance as we continue working on transitioning Michigan to a new 21st century economy.”  
 
Governor Applauds Chrysler Announcement to Keep Sterling Heights Assembly Plant Open
 
The governor issued the following statement today regarding Chrysler’s announcement that it will keep its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant open:
 
“I am pleased that Chrysler LLC has agreed to keep its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP) open.  Today’s announcement that the company is going to ‘buy back’ this plant from its pre-bankruptcy holding corporation is a victory for the Sterling Heights community, the UAW and all the others who worked so hard to bring this about.  The fact that this plant would have been closed in 2010 and now will continue to operate, at least through 2012, is great news for the 1,250 Michigan employees building Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avengers there.  This decision also enables us to work all the harder to help convince Chrysler that it makes sense to build its future mid-sized vehicles at SHAP, guaranteeing a long-term future for the plant and its employees.”
 
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