Two years in the past, state Rep. Martin Daniel raised questions on reimbursements by Tennessee for the state well being care plan. It’s administered by Blue Cross/Blue Defend and Cigna, and state authorities pays out a whole bunch of tens of millions a 12 months for claims.
The problems which have arisen began when ClaimInformatics, a medical auditing agency, issued a preliminary audit greater than a 12 months in the past that reviewed the funds. It mentioned that there have been substantial variations amongst reimbursements for comparable and even similar medical procedures that have been troublesome to elucidate or justify.
ClaimInformatics mentioned greater than $17 million was paid inappropriately or erroneously. Blue Cross and Signa disagree with that conclusion.
Daniel sought knowledge from state Finance and Administration, which he mentioned “was proof against offering it.”
Daniel met with employees for the state lawyer basic and state comptroller. They really useful a evaluate and audit. Daniel positioned $400,000 within the state finances to conduct an audit, and after a prolonged course of, Healthcare Horizons in Knoxville gained the contract in early 2021. Healthcare Horizons completed its work in late 2021 or early 2022.
Right here is the place it will get sticky. The audit findings have been turned over to state AG Herb Slatery, who has did not launch them.
Daniel, on Feb. 25, requested Slatery in regards to the audit’s standing. Slatery emailed Daniel the identical day: “It’s nonetheless in course of. Nothing has been launched.”
Why? Slatery leaves workplace Aug. 31. Why would he refuse to launch a report he approved? Taxpayers paid for this audit.
On March 1, Daniel urged Slatery by e-mail to launch it, however Slatery by no means responded.
Daniel says the report “may very well be a supply of embarrassment and potential legal responsibility to Gov. (Invoice) Lee.” However no matter it comprises, taxpayers have a proper to know what it’s. Healthcare Horizons shouldn’t be speaking in regards to the audit.
State Rep. Jason Zachary acknowledged the AG’s legislative liaison texted him that the audit evaluate can be accomplished by the tip of the present fiscal 12 months. However the textual content doesn’t say if it might be launched. Slatery has solely 35 days left as AG. The subsequent AG has not been chosen.
The problems usually are not pocket change. They might be enormous. Important quantities of tax {dollars} reaching tens of millions might have been missed. The State Supreme Courtroom will likely be selecting the following lawyer basic to exchange Slatery subsequent month. The 5 justices ought to select an AG who believes in and practices transparency.
At any time when this audit is launched, I’ll report on its contents.
Whereas it’s the state Supreme Courtroom that decides who would be the state lawyer basic, Lee is anticipated to make a advice. Many anticipate the advice to be his CEO for operations, Brandon Gibson, an lawyer and former decide on the appellate court docket from West Tennessee appointed by former governor Invoice Haslam. She has been CEO since Might 2020.
Longtime former metropolis police chief Phil Keith has been working because the interim government director of the Tennessee Affiliation of Police Chiefs since early April when the prior government director resigned. There are 268 police chiefs in Tennessee and greater than 1,000 members of the group.
Their 2022 annual assembly was final week in Chattanooga. Keith has been going to Nashville weekly for 3 months to run the state workplace and expects to proceed till a brand new government director is chosen, which may happen the tip of August.
Birthdays
July 29: Farragut Alderman Drew Burnette is 42. Shauna Godlevsky is 48. Kenny Fikes is 55. Metropolis Council member Lynne Fugate and her husband, Scott, are each 61. Michael Maddux is 61. TBI Director and former metropolis police chief David Rausch is 60. Thomas Welborn is 74. Architect Beth Eason is 59.
July 30: Democratic DA candidate Jackson Fenner is 45. Blount Mansion director David Hearnes is 44. Steve Tatum is 72. Property Assessor John Whitehead is 74. State Normal Providers Commissioner Christi Branscom is 57.
July 31: Sarah Howell is 35. Monica Armstrong is 26. Former metropolis particular occasions director Sue Clancy is 90. Retired banker Larry Martin is 75. Clarence Vaughn is 42.
Aug. 1: Invoice Baxter, former TVA board chair, state financial improvement director and CEO Of Holston Gases, is 69. Ursula Bailey is 57. Lawyer John Harber is 70. Gary Loe is 65. Pond Hole’s David Williams is 70. Invoice Murrah is 77. Former sheriff and GOP state government committee candidate Tim Hutchison is 70. Lawyer Arnold Cohen is 81.
Aug. 2: Businessman Jordan Mollenhour is 41. Retired East Tennessee improvement director Bob Freeman is 86.
Aug. 3: Metropolis Deputy Mayor Erin Gill is 36. Nathaniel Shelso is 34. Lawyer Al Holifield is 62. Jane Jolley is 59. Revered dentist Don Henson is 65. West Hills activist Larry Silverstein is 67. Martha Coppock is 85. Artist Alex Smith is 35. Julieanne Foy, Lakeshore Basis director, is 57.
Aug. 4: Former president Barack Obama is 61. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and spouse of Prince Harry, is 41.
This text initially appeared on Knoxville Information Sentinel: Why hasn’t lawyer basic launched taxpayer-paid audit? | Ash
