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For Immediate Release:
April 25, 2008
Contact: Sara Anderson
(573) 526-0407
Jefferson City — The Department of Social Services (DSS) has named Tina Morlock employee of the month for April 2008. Tina is a Program Development Specialist for the MO HealthNet Division in Jefferson City.
Tina was nominated for the recognition of Employee of the Month because of her recent work in identifying and resolving an issue in which the MO HealthNet Division (MHD) was being overcharged by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). In January 2007, Tina recognized an unexplained increase in charges to MHD through the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA). The MMA requires states to pay an amount to the federal government for individuals who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. These individuals are called dual eligibles.
A report from CMS showed an increase of 10,000 dual eligibles during the month of January 2006. Tina identified this number as being incorrect which resulted in them overcharging MHD. She immediately began working with CMS to negotiate the refund. Tina also worked with CMS to reduce the scope of the MMA file to four months instead of the standard 12 months. This would allow MHD to have a more accurate and up to date representation of dual eligibles in the states’ MO HealthNet (formerly Medicaid) program. This process required Tina to go above and beyond the scope of her job duties. Identifying and resolving this problem required countless hours of research utilizing complex computer software with which she had no previous experience. Tina worked closely with the Information Technology Services Division to make program changes to ensure the problem was resolved and further issues would not arise. Without their assistance, this issue would not have been resolved so quickly and accurately.
"The initiative and hard work Tina put forth to resolve this problem is a great example of the dedication of MHD employees to insure that payments for services is based on the best and most accurate information about our participants," said MO HealthNet Division Director Dr. Ian McCaslin. "Since taking office, Gov. Matt Blunt has given state departments the duty of being good stewards of tax payer dollars. MHD strives to accomplish this each day. With employees like Tina, we are able to confidently say our division takes this directive to heart."
Tina has been employed with MHD since October of 1990 and has served as a Program Development Specialist since October of 2004. She has previously served the division as a Medicaid Specialist, Correspondence and Information Specialist, Medicaid Technician and Clerk-Typist.
The commitment and dedication Tina demonstrates in this situation and each day as a Program Development Specialist is the reason she is being honored as the April Employee of the Month.
