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DHS' Thiebes honored at state-of-state speech
March 2004
Carolyn Thiebes and Randy White at the
governor's state-of-the-state luncheon |
A DHS employee
was one of two state workers held up as good examples by Gov. Ted Kulongoski
in his
2004 "state of the state" speech.
Carolyn Thiebes, a prepaid
health plan coordinator with the DHS Office of Medical Assistance Programs
(OMAP), was recognized for coming up with
an idea that saved the department an estimated half-million dollars.
Kulongoski
invited Thiebes and Randy White (a Lottery employee whose suggestion
led to over $1 million in savings) to attend the City Club
of Portland luncheon where he delivered his address on March 5.
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The governor noted that many state employees
come up with "new and imaginative ways to save money. ... By working
smarter, we've stretched our tax dollars — steering money to vital
programs and services that otherwise might have been cut."
Thiebes' suggestion, which was submitted in 1998 and
rewarded in 2002, was for a checklist to be used by people applying
for Oregon Health Plan benefits.
"It helps the clients to complete the applications
in a more thorough way," Thiebes explains, "so that their
application can be approved (or denied) in a more timely manner." Fewer
errors made on applications means lower administrative costs.
Thiebes was an eligibility specialist at the OHP central
processing branch at the time she made the suggestion
"I congratulate these great public employees," Kulongoski
said, "and ask everyone who works in government to follow their
lead by looking for ways to deliver services cheaper, faster and better. "
"What an amazing experience it was," Thiebes
said of the governor's luncheon. "It was awesome."
Thiebes in 2002 received a plaque and a check for $5,000
from the state's Employee Suggestion Awards Program (ESAP).
___________
Learn more
If you have a suggestion you would like to submit, or
if you'd like to learn more about the department's process, contact
Donna Weaver, the interim DHS Employee Suggestion Awards Program coordinator,
(503) 945-6956; email donna.weaver@state.or.us
The ESAP
Web site has much more information, including more details
on how the submission program works, and
suggestion forms for staff or managers to download.
You can read the state-of-the-state
speech at the Governor's
Web site.
— Gary Whitehouse, DHS Communication
Office, (503) 945-6934; email gary.whitehouse@state.or.us
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