Princess Health and UK, not questioned mental-health agency, will run Eastern State.Princessiccia

Princess Health and UK, not questioned mental-health agency, will run Eastern State.Princessiccia

audits mental health state government

Gusty 15:56 Add Comment

Herald-Leader photo by Mark Mahan: Hospital nears completion

The University of Kentucky will manage the new Eastern State Hospital, replacing the Bluegrass Regional Mental Health-Mental Retardation Board, which has operated the current facility since 1995. The new hospital, being built on UK's Coldstream Research Campus off Newtown Pike, will replace an outdated facility along that boulevard in central Lexington.

Gov. Steve Beshear "said the state and UK intend for Bluegrass Regional to remain an 'integral part' of the new hospital, and would help with the transition, but he provided no details," Linda Blackford reports for the Lexington Herald-Leader. The state and UK HealthCare have signed a letter of intent to enter into a contract, but details remain to be worked out, said Audrey Tayse Haynes, secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. She said the initial contract would be for one year and $43 million.

"Beshear said talks between the state and UK began before the Lexington Herald-Leader reported in June 2012 on questionable spending at Bluegrass," leading to a state audit, Blackford reports. "The audit found lax board oversight and lavish spending on executives while front-line workers went without pay raises."

"Beshear said the new partnership would put Kentucky at the forefront of mental health care because of the clinical expertise that UK brings in neuroscience, psychiatry, pharmacy, nursing and social work," Blackford writes.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/01/18/2481231/university-of-kentucky-expected.html#storylink=cpy

Princess Health and Significant management improvements at Passport Health Plan, audit finds.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Significant management improvements at Passport Health Plan, audit finds.Princessiccia

audits managed care Medicaid

Gusty 16:59 Add Comment

Passport Health Plan has improved significantly since a 2010 audit uncovered wasteful spending and other problems, a new audit has concluded.

The managed care organization that cares for Medicaid recipients in Jefferson and 15 surrounding counties "has made significant improvements in accountability and financial record-keeping," a press release from Audrey Tayse Haynes, the new secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. "Patient satisfaction with the health care provider remains high," she states.

"The audit is a follow-up to former State Auditor Crit Luallen's scathing report of November 2010 in which Luallen found lavish spending by Passport's former executives on travel, meals and other expenses," reports Tom Loftus for The Courier-Journal. "It also questioned transfers of about $30 million of reserve funds to the major health-care organizations represented on Passport's board of directors."

Gov. Steve Beshear ordered a plan to correct the problem, which involved replacing Passport's executives, among other changes. Though there has been improvement, "after having exclusive rights to the region for about 14 years, Passport will have to bid against other managed care organizations if it wants to be among those that will serve it in 2013," Loftus reports.

Still, since the state has switched to managed care for the rest of the state and severe problems have surfaced with the three companies that have been hired to serve those recipients, Passport's reputation has improved substantially. State Auditor Adam Edelen said in February the state was unprepared for the quick transition to managed care in the rest of the state. (Read more)

Princess Health and University Hospital's trust to pay for indigent care lacks oversight, state auditor finds.Princessiccia

Princess Health and University Hospital's trust to pay for indigent care lacks oversight, state auditor finds.Princessiccia

audits hospitals indigent care

Gusty 11:23 Add Comment

An audit of the trust that disburses more than $30 million in state and local funding to provide indigent care at University Hospital has found there is a lack of oversight. There is no evidence taxpayer dollars were abused, however.

"The audit, released by state Auditor Adam Edelen, found that the board structure wasn't suited for proper oversight and the agreement between University Medical Center, which runs the hospital, and state and local governments to administer the money is outdated," reports Laura Ungar of The Courier-Journal.

The audit also found there is insufficient record keeping. "The responsibility for providing a safety net for our most vulnerable is a critical one shared by the university, city and commonwealth," Edelen said. "While this audit underscores the need for modernization and reform of the governing structure, it does not provide justification for those who desire a retreat from that mission." (Read more)