Government
Florida's Medicaid chief resigns
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 26, 2009
Holly Benson, secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, resigned on Oct. 14, citing a desire to pursue other opportunities. AHCA is in charge of Florida's Medicaid program and is the state's main health policy and planning organization.
Florida patient advocates welcomed the news in hopes that the next Medicaid administrator would take a more patient-focused view of program reform, according to Laura Goodhue, executive director of the Florida Community Health Action Information Network. Goodhue said Benson was viewed by some as an administrator who defended the state's Medicaid reform pilot program despite concerns that it was not improving enrollees' care or access to it.
Benson said the agency has invested substantial time and effort in holding Medicaid managed care plans accountable. For example, the agency earlier this year asked the plans to come up with programs to improve their quality measure performance. "Already we're seeing substantial improvements," she said.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Benson as AHCA secretary in February 2008. Benson, whose last day is Oct. 28, was formerly the director of the Florida Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation and for six years served as a Florida House representative.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/26/gvbf1026.htm.
