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Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday the Department of Human Services’ Division of Medical Services and the Office of Medicaid Inspector General are proposing, at his request, the establishment of a new unit to focus on improving Medicaid integrity. ... The Payment Integrity Unit will use data analytics and industry best practices to identify systemic sources of waste, the governor said. DHS and OMIG will then collaborate on correcting the existing policies, providing new training for DHS and provider staff, and addressing shortcomings in the current claim processing procedures. (10/15)

Ongoing questions about whether Iowa has acted legally in its efforts to privatize management of a health insurance program for children have prompted a state senator to ask Gov. Terry Branstad to remove the plan from what she calls his “managed care mess.” Questions were first posed in August by the chairwoman of hawk-i, citing state law saying her board is responsible for developing the criteria on which any administrative contractor would be selected. (Clayworth, 10/14)