Richard Wyatt, top Human Services official, resigns amid Medicaid probe | Arkansas Blog

Find out more →

Get unlimited access. Become a digital member!

Arkansas Blog

Archives | RSS

Solicitor general bases attack on Planned Parenthood on debunked hearsay

Friday, September 18, 2015

Richard Wyatt, top Human Services official, resigns amid Medicaid probe

Posted By on Fri, Sep 18, 2015 at 9:03 AM

RICHARD WYATT
  • RICHARD WYATT
Richard Wyatt, the chief information officer at the state Department of Human Services, submitted his resignation Thursday, effective Oct. 30.

Wyatt has been the point man at the department in explaining exploding costs, money spent on non-functioning systems and other problems in the computerized system for enrolling people in Medicaid and checking the eligibility of those receiving health insurance coverage under the private option expansion of Medicaid.

Wyatt has been grilled by legislative committees over his agency's work and a decision this week to attempt to subpoena testimony from federal officials was widely understood to be a probe aimed at checking events as described by Wyatt against the view of the federal agency that supervises Medicaid and Medicare payments to the states.

At a meeting earlier this week, legislators discussed Wyatt's failure to notify the federal officials of a change in software providers and Wyatt's decision to bypass bidders for the contract in selecting a new provider. Testimony differed on whether Wyatt had been told he could not negotiate with the bidders.

In confirming my tip on the departure, DHS spokesman Amy Webb said:

Yes, Dick is leaving. During a conversation earlier this week, John told Dick that he felt like now was a good time for a change. It’s been a difficult few months and this will give us a fresh start on the project. Dick agreed to stay on until Oct.30 to help ease any transition, which we greatly appreciate.

Here’s an email that John sent to Dick and his staff yesterday that can stand as John’s statement.

You have led the Department through very challenging times and have a long list of innovations and accomplishments to your credit, not the least of which was quickly standing up a system that could offer health coverage to 200,000 low income adults. We are all indebted to you for your commitment and expertise.

Thanks for being a true public servant!

And thanks for agreeing to stay on for a while to help us through the transition.

I've sought a comment from Gov. Asa Hutchinson and asked whether he encouraged the development.

UPDATE: A statement from J.R. Davis, the governor's spokesman:

It is common practice for agency directors to make the Governor’s office aware of any personnel changes, and that was the case in this situation. The Governor has confidence in his agency directors to make these decisions, and all other inquiries into this matter should be directed to DHS.

PS — The legislature's Joint Audit committee is questioning DHS officials this morning about the extensive report issued earlier on software problems. (Find a PDF at the link, which is to Legislative Audit homepage.) Not a happy morning. In summary, the audit found:a failure to hold vendors accountable, inappropriate use of "sole source," or no-bid contracts, improper cooperative purchase agreements, a lack of disclosure to legislature and non-compliance with rules, and poor cost containment in use of contract labor.

From the ArkTimes store

Instapaper
Favorite
Share
Comments (12)
Email

Comments (12)

Showing 1-12 of 12

Add a comment

 
Subscribe to this thread:
By Email
With RSS
Showing 1-12 of 12

Add a comment

More by Max Brantley

  • Rutledge touts effort to allow discrimination against gay people

    Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is braying about her intervention in yet another out-of-state lawsuit — this one to protect a Washington state florist who doesn't want to sell flowers to gay people for use at their wedding.
    • by Max Brantley
    • Aug 22, 2017

  • Tuesday's open line

    The open line and video report.
    • by Max Brantley
    • Aug 22, 2017

  • Unemployment insurance pays off

    Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families has published a new report on the benefits of unemployment insurance — how every dollar paid on benefits puts two dollars into the economy.
    • by Max Brantley
    • Aug 22, 2017
  • More »

Readers also liked…

Most Shared

RT @victoriapricetv: #BREAKING: Autopsy confirms human remains found belong to 23 yr old Laramie Cline of AL. Sources say body found in Lak…
Fox16 News

With deadline looming, iconic Ark. hotel could make stopgap fixes, do 'full-blown' renovation later, official says:… https://t.co/8G4VerMkgf
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Arkansas's Broadway Bridge A Finalist For America's Transportation Awards
KUAR Newsroom

Fed, State Bank Board OK Home BancShares' Stonegate Bank Deal https://t.co/6VGa9erUAU
Arkansas Business

Donate those solar eclipse glasses! You can also send them to any Girl Scouts - Diamond offices. https://t.co/anQxN2c928
KATV News

More Headlines...

Most Viewed

  • Troubles mount for Sen. Jake Files. Maybe others, too

    Sen. Jakes Files has serious problems, based on an FBI affidavit filed Monday in Fort Smith. One new question is how many other legislators have problems based on spending of state surplus money?

  • There is life other than football, UAMS indicates

    UAMS has announced that it will be open for business as usual on Aug. 31, even though a football game will be taking place that night at War Memorial Stadium.

  • Another bank acquisition for Arvest

    Arvest Bank, the Walton banking enterprise, is acquiring Bear State Financial, led by Richard Massey, for $391 million, all cash. Bear State, based in Arkansas, has 42 branches and other operations in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

  • Lawsuit filed against 'election integrity' commission

    A voting rights group has filed a lawsuit against the so-called election integrity commission that's likely nothing a Trump vehicle for voter roll purges. Talking Points Memo reports.

  • Legislators set 'town hall' on Little Rock School District

    A group of Little Rock legislators (not all of them, only Democrats so far) has organized a town hall meeting on the Little Rock School District from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the Old Supreme Court chamber at the state Capitol. We propose a few questions.

Most Recent Comments

  • Re: Tuesday's open line

    • The Republican governor has granted a stay of execution in a Missouri death penalty case…

    • Posted by Vanessa
    • on August 22, 2017

  • Re: Confederate memories of a Southern boy

    • Thanks for clarifying things, baker. I, heretofore, had, indeed, thought that all comments, articles, and…

    • Posted by Olphart
    • on August 22, 2017

  • Re: There is life other than football, UAMS indicates

    • A lot of UAMS employees/students park at War Memorial stadium and take a shuttle or…

    • Posted by NeverVoteRepublican
    • on August 22, 2017

Top Commenters

Blogroll

Site Index

News

Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Jay Barth / Words / Guest Writer / Letters

Entertainment

A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / Calendar / Gallery Listings

This Week's Cover

Cover of this issue of The Arkansas Times

Quick Links

  • El Latino
  • Best Lawyers
  • UALR Public Radio
  • Fox 16 News
  • Savvy

Special Publications

Cover
 

© 2017 Arkansas Times | 201 East Markham, Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201
Powered by Foundation