MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare

By: Senator(s) Huggins, Blackmon

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-13-107, Mississippi Code of 1972, TO PRESCRIBE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF MEDICAID IN THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 43-13-107, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-13-107. The Division of Medicaid is hereby created in the Office of the Governor and established to administer this article and perform such other duties as are prescribed by law.

The Governor shall appoint a full-time director, with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall be either (a) a physician with administrative experience in a medical care or health program or (b) a person holding a graduate degree in medical care administration, public health, hospital administration, or the equivalent, or (c) a person holding a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration or hospital administration, with at least ten (10) years' experience in management-level administration of Medicaid programs, and who shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Governor. The director shall be the official secretary and legal custodian of the records of the division; shall be the agent of the division for the purpose of receiving all service of process, summons and notices directed to the division; and shall perform such other duties as the Governor shall, from time to time, prescribe. The director, with the approval of the Governor and the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board, shall employ such professional, administrative, stenographic, secretarial, clerical and technical assistance as may be necessary to perform the duties required in administering this article and fix the compensation therefor, all in accordance with a state merit system meeting federal requirements, except that when the salary of the director is not set by law, such salary shall be set by the State Personnel Board. No employees of the Division of Medicaid shall be considered to be staff members of the immediate Office of the Governor; however, the provisions of Section 25-9-107(xv), Mississippi Code of 1972, shall apply to the director and other administrative heads of the division.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.