Dive Brief:
- Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) named Stephen Miller to be commissioner of the state’s Medicaid program.
- As commissioner, Miller will be tasked with scaling back the Medicaid expansion that took place under Bevin’s predecessor, Steve Beshear (D).
- Miller brings to the job a combination of financial and healthcare experience.
Dive Insight:
During his campaign for governor last year, Bevin said he would work to reverse Medicaid expansion in Kentucky. However, he has eased up on that position, saying he will attempt to tailor Medicaid expansion under the ACA to meet the specific needs of the state, using a 1332 federal waiver.
Bevin hasn’t specified how the changes work, but his current stance follows that of other GOP governors who want to avoid appearing to support Obamacare while fine-tuning state Medicaid programs.
Prior to joining Bevin’s administration, Miller served for many years as vice president of finance at the Kentucky Hospital Association, working on state and federal reimbursement issues including Medicaid. Before that, he served in leadership roles at two Louisville hospitals.
“As we work to redesign the Medicaid program and transition it to a more affordable, sustainable model tailored to Kentucky’s needs, it is important to have someone with a deep understanding of the healthcare industry leading the Department of Medicaid, Bevin said in a release.