Director's Message

July 15, 2005

To: DHS employees

From: Bryan Johnston, Interim DHS Director

Welcome to the July 15th Director’s Message. As I write this, the 73rd Assembly of the Oregon Legislature is in session with no clear path to wrapping up. Only five sessions have lasted longer. History will tell us whether the result was worthy of the investment.

As usual, there is much going on. I had a very enjoyable tour of the Parkway building this week. I met many hardworking folks who are serving Oregon well. And I was reminded again how each of us plays a role in a larger effort.

Believe me, there are no unimportant jobs. What’s that old line…for want of a nail, the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost, for want of a horse, the battle was lost, and for want of a battle, the kingdom was lost. Whoever had the job of providing the nails was very important.

Today, I intend to give you one perspective on the:

*SEIU contract,

*and then discuss Molly’s Bill,

*a special honor,

*and the Office of Payment Accuracy and Recovery (OPAR).

I apologize if it’s a little longer than usual. Read selectively. Have a great weekend and thanks for all that you do.

Updates:

·SEIU contract: The state reached tentative agreement with SEIU early on July 7, 2005. Although some in the press have portrayed this contract as being "generous," the more accurate view is that it lays the foundation for catching up employees for the years they went without receiving any increases. SEIU represents approximately 18,000 state employees in the Executive Branch. The tentative agreement will now need to be ratified by the members of SEIU. The SEIU bargaining team is recommending ratification.

·Molly’s Bill signing: Governor Ted Kulongoski signed legislation today that will help families find relatives with developmental disabilities who once lived at state institutions, including the Fairview Training Center. Senate President Peter Courtney sponsored the legislation, which became known as "Molly’s Bill." It arose from an Astoria man’s search for his sister, Molly. In 1957, when Jeff Daly was 6 and Molly Daly was 3, their parents placed Molly at Fairview. After their parents died, Jeff Daly began searching for his sister. He found her in 2004 living in a Hillsboro group home.

The new law establishes a system that protects the confidentiality of former residents while making it easier for families to reunite with them. The legislation will help us in our continuing efforts to reunite families and help make them whole again. A great deal of credit goes to those in DHS’ Seniors and People with Disabilities and other partners, Senator Peter Courtney, the Governor and others for helping to bring closure to what at times has been a long and frustrating journey for some in trying to find their relatives.

·A special honor: One of our own employees, Michellee Grogan, Office Assistant in SPD - Licensing & Quality of Care, won two gold medals in gymnastics recently at the Special Olympics Oregon competition. Founded in 1972, Special Olympics Oregon is a year-round program offering 14 different Olympic-style sports to athletes with intellectual disabilities. Throughout the state of Oregon, more than 5,000 athletes participate in this competition. Congratulations Michellee on your accomplishment!

·The Office of Payment Accuracy and Recovery: OPAR was established in DHS/Administrative Services effective July 1, 2005. Areas included in the office are: Investigations, Overpayment Writers, Overpayment Recovery, Estate Administration, Personal Injury Liens, Client maintenance Unit, Medical Payment Recovery, Health Insurance Group and Medicare Buy-in, Medicaid Audit and Child Care Audit and Institutional Revenue. By consolidating this work, as we have with other business service functions, we will be able to be more efficient with taxpayer dollars.

Our intent is also to improve communications and maximize collaboration and cooperation in payment accuracy and recovery efforts. We are currently recruiting for an administrator to lead the efforts of this new office. The position closes July 26. You can find it posted at: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/jobs/index.shtml#jobs

This message is intended for all department employees. Please read it electronically, if possible. Managers and supervisors are asked to share the message each week with employees who do not have email access.

If you have a disability and need this message to be provided to you in another format, please send an email to dhs.forms@state.or.us, or call (503) 947-5107. You can also fax your request to (503) 373-7690, or call (503) 947-5080 for TTY service. If you know of others who need this accommodation, please let them know it is available.