For Immediate Release:
October 31, 2007

Contact: Sara Anderson
(573) 526-0407

Gov. Blunt Designates Mo HealthNet Oversight Committee

Jefferson City – Gov. Matt Blunt today called on Missourians with knowledge and expertise in the area of health care to serve on the Mo HealthNet Oversight Committee.

“Mo HealthNet is not just about reforming Missouri’s safety net system for the poor but creating an entirely new system to deliver health care services to low income Missourians,” Gov. Blunt said. “The old system was failing Missourians who needed help.  Mo HealthNet will focus on health, wellness and prevention for our state’s most vulnerable people.  This committee will be tasked with advising the Department of Social Services on the implementation of the new Mo HealthNet program to help make certain we are doing everything possible to help serve the health care needs of participants.”

The 18 member Mo HealthNet Oversight Committee will evaluate the Mo HealthNet program and its implementation.  The Committee will be made up of two members each from the House and Senate representing each party, one consumer representative, two primary care physicians, two physicians who are not primary care physicians, one representative of the state hospital association, one non physician recommended by the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration, two patient advocates, one dentist, one public member and the directors or their chosen representative from the Departments of Social Services, Mental Health and Health and Senior Services.  Gov. Blunt appointed to serve on the Committee:  

• Stephen C. Bradford, 61 of Cape Girardeau, is president and chief executive officer for Pyramid Home Health Services, Inc. Mr. Bradford holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and master’s in urban and regional planning from the University of Mississippi. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on October 30, 2009. 
• Gwendolyn Crimm, 57 of St. Louis, is the placement coordinator at the Construction Career Center Charter High School. Ms. Crimm attended Forest Park Community College and Fontbonne University. Her appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on October 30, 2009.
• Dr. Frederick G. DeFeo, 61 of Kansas City, is a physician at University Physician Associates. Dr. DeFeo holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Rockhurst College and medical degree from the University of Kansas. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on October 30, 2008.
• Craig D. Frazier, 42 of Springfield, is president and CEO of Intuitive Medical Software, LLC. Mr. Frazier holds a bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on October 30, 2009.
• Dr. Shawn P. Griffin, 39 of St. Joseph, is chief medical information officer at Heartland Health. Dr. Griffin holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Northeast Missouri State University and medical degree from the University of Iowa. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on October 30, 2009.
• Steven H. Lipstein, 51 of Clayton, is president and CEO of BJC HealthCare. Mr. Lipstein holds a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and master’s in health administration from Duke University. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on October 30, 2009.
• Dr. Debra O. McCaul, 42 of Rolla, is a physician at St. John’s Health System. Dr. McCaul holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from John Hopkins University and medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia. Her appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on October 30, 2008.
• Dr. Heidi B. Miller, 35 of St. Louis, is an internal medicine doctor at the Family Care Health Centers. Dr. Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Yale University and medical degree from Harvard. Her appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on October 30, 2009.
• Laura M. Neal, 31 of Columbia, is coordinator for Quality of Life Services at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. Ms. Neal holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Columbia and master’s in social work and public health from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Her appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on October 30, 2009.
• Joseph E. Pierle, 36 of Jefferson City, is the executive director the Missouri Primary Care Association. Mr. Pierle holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and master’s in public administration from George Mason University. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on October 30, 2009.
• Dr. William D. Thousand, 57 of Springfield, is dental director at Jordan Valley Community Dental Clinic. Dr. Thousand holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Central Missouri State University and doctorate of dental surgery from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on October 30, 2008.

Earlier this year Gov. Blunt delivered on his promise to create an innovative health care system by signing legislation creating Mo HealthNet. Mo HealthNet improves the taxpayer funded health care program by replacing the failing Medicaid system with one that improves health care for low income Missourians. 

Mo HealthNet benefits include:

• Focus on prevention, health, and wellness
• Coordinated care and treatment
• Choice of a health care home which provides a central point of contact and assists with gaining access to needed care
• Personalized health plan
• Care based on proven practices

What Missourians can expect from Mo HealthNet:

• Better access to quality care
• Participants are actively involved in their health care
• Improved health care through technology
• Better health outcomes
• Expanded eligibility to include working Missourians with disabilities, foster children until they are 21 years of age, and lower-income children in the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
• Greater emphasis on furthering the fight against fraud and abuse of taxpayer resources

As governor, Blunt has worked to utilize technology to improve health care. He has secured $25 million to create the Healthcare Technology Fund to build a foundation for the state to enhance technology in its health care programs.

Gov. Blunt also recently unveiled his Insure Missouri plan, an innovative new program that will help low income working Missourians purchase their own personal health insurance.  The governor’s plan will help reduce the number of uninsured by 30 percent without a job-killing tax increase.