This week, the Senate’s Health and Human Services committees held a joint hearing regarding the ongoing crisis at the Department of Human Services (DHS).  The objective of the hearing was to receive testimony to get to the root of numerous problems including $25 million in overpayments to tribes for Medicaid, and the resignation of several top officials at the department. There was also an emphasis on finding out more details on DHS Inspector General Carolyn Ham and her role in allowing widespread childcare fraud and accusations that DHS had been ignoring and retaliating against employees that brought forth problems within the department.

Unfortunately, this agency has proven to be a challenge for proper oversight, not only for the Walz administration but also for previous administrations as well.  This pattern continued during the hearing as DHS officials who showed up provided the public sparse details and were combative in their responses several times during the hearing.

The lack of transparency and disregard for getting to the bottom of these issues is unsettling. The citizens of Minnesota deserve answers to who was responsible for DHS’s many problems and what is being done to correct them.  The administration and this department should be using all their power to ensure that citizens trust is fully restored and that agency operations are as efficient, responsive, and transparent as the public deserves.

As these crises continue to unfold the Senate will actively be looking into ways to remedy these administrative problems. One possible solution that immediately comes to mind is to reduce the Department of Human Services in size to make it more responsive and manageable. This possible reorganization could include moving the positions like Inspector General and other investigators to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension or Department of Public Safety who currently conduct many investigations under their operations.  Those are just a couple of examples that come to mind, but more could be created via a task force, or a committee focused on developing solutions for the state’s largest department. 

As we get closer 2020 session and developments occur I will continue to keep you update. In the meantime, If you’re curious to learn more, you can watch the full hearing here.