October 2020 |  Vol. 6   No. 4

Deputy Director's Corner

Hello, everyone!

During the month of October, send me your thoughts about why remote work is GREAT.  Your thoughts can be serious or funny.  In November, we will send out the list of "100 Best Things about Working Remotely".  Of course that means I need 100 ideas, so start sending them my way.

We had gotten into a really good rhythm of reminding the whole MHD team of our mission, and then, wow, we've had to spend a lot of time talking about other things, like COVID.  So I wanted to take a moment and remind everyone of our mission:  “Together we will build a best in class Medicaid program that addresses the needs of Missouri’s most vulnerable in a way that is financially sustainable."

We are continuing to pursue our mission.  That has not changed.  Continue to look for  areas where you think we can improve:  things that would improve the Medicaid experience for our participants, our providers,  and for YOU!  Are there process improvements that would make your job function more smoothly, more enjoyably, or more efficiently?  Please speak up, if so.  It's probably time for a Medicaid Transformation update for everyone so I will do that in the November newsletter.

The Governor proclaimed September 30 as the day to appreciate our state workforce.  I appreciate the MHD team every day!  So many participants and providers rely on you, so thank you for what you do every day!  We have a lot of work ahead of us with Medicaid expansion and I know we can do it!  There is a saying that someone I know has as her tag line on her email, and it is this:  “There are three stages to every great work of God; first it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.” ― Hudson Taylor

I think about this a lot when I think about MO HealthNet, how this team manages to get great things accomplished!

Jessie

REMINDERS FLU SHOTS: The "Curbside Clinic" is coming to the Howerton building (parking lot that is) The Clinic has been set for October 22 from 9am till 1:00 pm and will occur somewhere in the Howerton Building parking lot. This will also include the Knipp Building and the Professional Registration Building. There will be more information coming out from either Chris Lindsey or Kathy Vaught that will include how to sign up and exactly where in the parking lot this will occur. Only state employees who have a plan subscription under MCHCP will be eligible for the flu shot. That means if you have a family member on your health plan that is NOT a state employee they will NOT be eligible for this flu shot. There are a number of symptoms that overlap between COVID and the flu, no one likes to quarantine waiting for test results, a flu shot can greatly reduce the risk of getting the flu and if you do get the flu, it reduces the risk of your symptoms being severe. Also, we want to prevent as much flu as we can in order to make sure healthcare resources are available for COVID should there be another spike. Finally, there is a risk to be exposed and catch both flu and COVID around the same time. CONFERENCE ROOMS:  Please remove meetings from the conference room calendars if you know that staff will be attending your meeting remotely and you will not need the conference room.   TO THOSE WORKING REMOTELY:  Please ensure you have turned off desk lights, monitors, and other electronic devices not in use.  Also, if you have any plants, please remove them or arrange to have them watered.

Rare Disease Advisory Council

In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has increased research and development of treatments for rare diseases.  The MO HealthNet Pharmacy Program constantly reviews this pipeline of new medications. In drug classes where there used to be no treatment, we now see multiple medications.  One such instance is Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) (1 in 6,000 to 1 in 10,000 live births) with three new medications.  Another example is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (1 in 3,500 male births) with four new medications. These treatments are cutting edge therapies.  Therapies include gene therapies, spinal injections, infusions, and oral formulations.  This allows participants with these rare diseases to have a much better outlook on life. Unfortunately, these treatments are some of the highest cost medications ever.  Currently, the world’s most expensive drug is Zolgensma, a drug to treat SMA, retailing at over $2 million.  In SFY20 MHD spent over $20 million on medications for rare diseases. The pipeline shows this trend will continue.  Over the next few years, we expect the FDA to approve an additional 40+ new medications, that will cost over $200,000. While a rare disease is defined as one impacting less than 200,000 people in the United States it is estimated that due to the number of rare diseases 1 in 10 people in the United States have a rare disease.

At MO HealthNet, we are lucky to have the Rare Disease Advisory Council, formally known as the “Advisory Council on Rare Diseases and Personalized Medicine.” The council is staffed with experts in a number of rare disease fields and are experienced in the treatment of these patients.  Since forming the Advisory Council in 2018, we have established criteria for many new drugs whose indication treats less than 200,000 patients in the United States. The group meets quarterly to discuss any new approved rare disease drugs.  This quarterly meeting is open to the public. While our Prior Authorization Committee and Drug Utilization Review Board will cover approximately 50 classes in 4 hours, the Rare Disease Advisory Council will review 3 – 5 drugs in the same amount of time. It is a fascinating process that will continue to grow for the foreseeable future.  The discussions are never dull.  The meetings are virtual so feel free to join.

We’ve all been through a lot in the last few months, individually and as a community – with the Pandemic, financial fall out and concerns about Inclusion and Diversity have affected every one of us.

We want to thank you for your commitment to the MO HealthNet Division and want you to know we are committed to your success and are striving to find ways to increase opportunities for inclusion and diversity.

MHD is committed to:

• Leading by example, thru action – not just to check the box. We want these efforts to change our culture, not just a one and done training.
  • Goal: For real change to happen, every leader must buy into the value of inclusiveness and belonging.
• Measuring progress; we will start looking at our current numbers on race and gender.
  • Goal: To increase the diversity at MHD. Diversity in the workplace is important!
• Finding activities to celebrate cultural differences.
  • Goal: Building awareness of diversity and inclusiveness, we want to acknowledge a variety of religious and cultural holidays.
• Valuing and respecting differences in everyone’s backgrounds, all of our experiences, and each of your perspectives.
  • Goal: To create a sense of belonging for everyone. Each individual must see and understand their role. We all have different backgrounds, experiences and value across this Division.

Mission: MHD leaders’ commitment is to create an inclusive environment that uses our diversity to ensure equal opportunity for all.

"As the Director of MO HealthNet,  I commit to treating everyone on our team equally, fairly and with dignity and respect, regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, creed, ability, veterans status, age, or sexual orientation.  I expect everyone in our agency to do the same. Now, more than ever, is the time to support equal treatment of races and ethnicities. Inclusion starts with me. Inclusion starts with each of us."  -Todd Richardson

Look for upcoming information on Inclusion, Diversity & Leadership! If you have ideas or thoughts on ways to contribute to this mission, feel free to reach out to Ashley Wilson.

DYK:

• October brings Global Diversity Awareness Month to remind us of the positive impact a diverse workforce of men and women can have on a society.
• October 4 through October 10, 2020 (the first full week of October) marks National Diversity Week, founded in 1998 to raise awareness about the diversity which has shaped, and continues to shape, the United States. It’s celebrated on a city- or company-wide scale across the U.S., though some organizations observe it at other times of the year.
• October 19, 2020 (every third Monday in October) is Multicultural Diversity Day, a national day created by Cleorah Scruggs, a fourth-grade teacher in Flint, Michigan, the day was adopted as a national event by the NEA’s 1993 Representative Assembly to “increase awareness of the tremendous need to celebrate our diversity collectively.”

Staff News

Congratulations go out to Connie Sutter for being selected our MHD Employee of the 4th Quarter!!!   YIPPEE!!

Welcome to MHD

Dakota "Kodi" Andrews joined MHD on September 1.   She comes to us from the Division of Youth Services.   She is working in our TPL Unit as a Medicaid Clerk. Kodi says she is a "huge animal lover."   In fact, she saved her precious Kerry terrier/poodle mix Clyde last October. Kodi also likes making wreathes, swimming, decorating and cooking and baking.

Olivia Rush joined MHD on September 14 as our new Program Integrity Pharmacist in the Pharmacy Unit.   She previously worked as a clinical pharmacist at Conduent. Olivia resides in Mary's Home, as well as her parents John and Brenda Rush and younger brother Jacob. Olivia enjoys camping, crafting, hunting, fishing and gardening in her spare time.   A little known fact about her is that she is learning to play the guitar and is scuba certified.

Heather Voegeli joined MHD as an Accounts Assistant in TPL.  She formerly worked for the Department of Revenue's Drivers' License Bureau. Heather's hometown is Barnett.  She currently lives in Russellville with her husband, 3 sons, 2 dogs and 2 cats.   That's a houseful.  In her spare time, Heather enjoys fishing, hunting, reading and gardening.  A little know fact about heather is that she was raised on a dairy farm.   She and her husband run a 600 acre beef farm.   Her oldest son turns 8 in September and the other 2 have birthdays in April.

Barbara Cremer joined MHD as the new RN in Managed Care.  She formerly work as an RN at JCMG. Besides earning her RN degree, she also has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Management. Barbara originally hails from Dixon, MO.   She and her husband Joe now reside in Jefferson City with their 2 teenage boys.  One of the boys is being confirmed October 31. Barbara like to garden and collects baskets.

Who's Who at MHD

Garret Bialczyk is a Medicaid Information Services Funding Coordinator in our MMIS Unit at MHD.   He has worked for the State of Missouri for 7 years, with 6 of those at MHD. In his current position, Garret helps with preparing business cases and APDs to request funding for MMIS projects. This involves doing annual updates to request enhanced federal funding of 75-90% FFP, processing MMIS project/contract invoices, tracking expenditures on each APD, and reporting project progress to CMS. He also helps coordinate timesheeting for MHD and act as an “interpreter” to help DFAS Grants and MHD MMIS understand each other as these project/contract payments and MMIS staff time are funded through these APDs. When he was asked why he does what he does, he said, "‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ -Matthew 25:40 My current role gives me insight to what MHD does to make the most of our current program and to see where we are going, while continuing to help those in need. With a background in accounting and economics, this is a unique position that lets me use my skills in a manner that is bigger than myself." Garret enjoys spending time with Danica and their kids (Ryker [6] & Kyrah [3]), Reading, Listening to music and podcasts, Watching football (KC Chiefs and Mizzou Tigers) He also serve on their local school board and really enjoy seeing the kids and teachers succeed.  He enjoy learning what other school districts around the state do and bringing back some ideas to our district. He also serve as a Deacon at their church.   He said "Again, these are other ways for me to serve in something that is bigger than myself."

KUDOS

• Jeanine Rutledge and Tina Morlock would like to give a “kudos” to Debbie Richards and Cathy Wade for helping the MHD Accounts Payable team and them in processing the COVID-19 Nursing Home claims.  "This has been a huge undertaking and they have continued to work day after day to help keep us caught up."  THANK YOU!!
• Terri Mills wrote, "BIG thanks to Melissa Hesemann who has had GREAT patience in walking me through the mysterious world of MMIS. Since working on projects with Melissa, my relationship with the MMIS world has truly improved and become somewhat less stressful.  She is thoughtful to recognize the foreign nature of some of things she must present to me and actually takes the time to explain what it all means, and what MMIS needs from Policy, rather than just emailing a spreadsheet with a request to complete it and once opened the spreadsheet may as well be Quantum Mechanics to me!   She has truly been a game-changer in working through MMIS items.  She does not hesitate to call and follow-up to make sure I am good with something she just sent.  We should all follow her example in truly working as a team and caring about our fellow co-workers.  THANK YOU Melissa"

5 Star MO Learning Classes Ashley Wilson recommends "Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging for Leaders and Managers of the State of Missouri.."   This class can be found by clicking the link above or thru LinkedIn Learning. Please be sure to send me any classes you took and think others would enjoy and/or benefit from.

MHD  Connection News

BOO!   It's October already!   Time for pumpkin pie, pumpkin carving, ghosts, goblins and everything that comes with it. 

Although we don't have anything currently planned , please feel free to share your ideas with any committee member: Gail Luecke (Chairman),  Nanci Nikodym (Treasurer), Pam Burris, Nici Smith, Karen Pendleton, Stephanie Hunt, Bridgette Hicks, Stacie Gibson, Sheana Wilcox, and Carolyn Twardowski (secretary). 

MHD Connection Staff Forum

• October 29 - Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline Training presented by Sara Smith.  More to come soon.

If you have a particular subject you'd like to see in a Staff Forum, please let us know through the Employee Suggestion box or email. 

We are having a “Virtual” Halloween or Fall decorating & Costume Contest.  We will have following categories:

• Best Carved Pumpkin
• Best Halloween and/or Fall Display
• Best Costume

So get your creative juices going and send me pictures between now and October 25. Show off how you’ve decorated your home or work area (inside or out); your great pumpkin carving talents; or your Halloween costume you will be trick or treating in! I’ll post them on an intranet page like I did for the Guess Who activity a couple months ago

 Judging will be done via the pictures you send me and the “winners” will be revealed in the November Newsletter! Let's have some fun!!

What's Cooking at MHD?

Send me a note if you've tried any of the recipes and what you thought.  Keep those recipes coming and enjoy these delicious treats!!  Here are a couple of those recipes featured on The Recipe Corner.   Here a re couple submitted by Robin Beeler and Holly Hern.

This & That

Dana Bernier's little grandson Bo Alan and his mom Ally got to meet the governor in September.   They were participating in the ribbon cutting for the new STEM lab at California Elementary School.

Lois and her family got to enjoy some fun and relaxation on the beautiful beaches at Ft. Walton Beach, Florida.   She along with her mother Mildred and grandkids Arianna and Jax look like they had a good time.

Mike Traver's co-worker Bagheera looking really hard at work helping him review a Job Aid.  Looks like a good job to have!!

Carolyn Twardowski became a GREAT-grandma on August 28.   She and her family welcomed little miss Adley Dawn Manns at 3:57 p.m. weighing in at 6 lbs. 7 oz. and 19.5 inches long.   Such a sweety.   I bet great granny will have her up on a horse before you know it!

Who are those masked people?   Well the middle one is our very own Ashley Wilson.    Looks like she keeps great company.

Cindy Winniger-Watson's co-worker Kali must have had a rough day.   Taking a "cat nap" between calls and work.

Jayme Abbott's coworker June Bug is hard at work.

Is that Lois Sandbothe behind the stylish mask?  Why I think it is.   Thanks for sharing.

Paul Stuve wanted to share his favorite COVID mask!   No, that is not Paul modeling.

Congratulations go out to Terri Woodward's daughter Taylor who married Tanner Hawkes on September 12. Beautiful couple!

Our condolences go out to the following MHD team members:

• Dana Bernier's former mother-in-law Catarina (Katie) Bernier passed away on September 25.

MHD Calendar

10-12  Columbus Day - State Holiday Observed

10-20  DME Advisory Board Meeting

10-21  Drug Utilization Review Board Meeting

10-25  Deadline to send Halloween/Fall Contest pictures in.

10-29  Staff Forum:  Child Neglect & Abuse Hotline Training

10-31  Halloween - Trick or Treat