Problems Persist With Medical Transportation and UHIP: House Oversight Chair Serpa on GoLocal LIVE
GoLocalProv News Team
Problems Persist With Medical Transportation and UHIP: House Oversight Chair Serpa on GoLocal LIVE
Serpa joined GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle at the Rhode Island State House on the first day of session.
WATCH: See Interview BELOW
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTLast fall, House Oversight met to review Rhode Islanders' issues with MTM -- which Serpa said are still continuing to occur, despite repeated oversight hearings.
"It is resolved to no one’s satisfaction. I continue to get emails and phone calls almost on a daily basis," said Serpa, who said that at the last hearing, their government affairs person asked her transfer emails and phone calls directly to him.
"I wish I could say there’s an end in sight, but I honestly don’t see it. We came to the conclusion — among ourselves — that [MTM] underbid the contract, trying to get some money out of this, out of the cab drivers — who are our small businesses, and we value them. MTM doesn’t give them any more business until they agree to these lower rates. It’s unfair all around."
"I think it could have been fixed before now if they were paying attention and communicating. We’re holding the purse, we’re holding the money — it seems that we should be benefitting our taxpayers, not this corporation," said Serpa.
Struggle for New DCYF Director
Serpa spoke to DCYF being in a "holding pattern" with the search for a new Director.
"There’s an acting director who’s holding the fort. As I understand it, they’re having a really hard time getting any applications," she said. "I understand the low rate of pay is certainly a problem. In all fairness, I have to say, $135,000 for that job would not attract me either."
"I understand they’re coming to us for a supplemental budget. When we asked them in June, they indicated they did [have enough money]. There’s some overspending in that department. Maybe we need to move some money around — I’ve said that for a long time. There’s mismanagement of people and mismanagement of money," she said.
UHIP Concerns Persist
"As the program continues to settle down — they did something they probably shouldn’t have done to meet the mandates of the federal overseer," said Serpa. "They entered $1 as a salary — as a placeholder for people who might be eligible for food stamps, cash assistance — that caught up with us. I believe we got a reprimand, and a fine."
Serpa also spoke to how there’s going to be a recertification process to ensure eligibility moving forward.
"We have to stop doing things haphazardly, and last minute and come up with a plan," she said.
"I don’t pretend to know how the federal government works when they grant money to the states — but if we as a state have a reputation of not managing our federal money well, how reluctant are they going to be to keep giving it to us?"