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Senate Medical Affairs Committee gives unanimous favorable report to Eunice Medina for Medicaid director
Summary
The Senate Medical Affairs Committee voted unanimously to report Eunice Medina favorably to the full Senate for confirmation as director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' Medicaid program after hearing her remarks and staff questioning.
Eunice Medina received a unanimous favorable report from the South Carolina Senate Medical Affairs Committee on her nomination to lead the Medicaid program at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Medina, who the committee introduced before taking the oath, told the panel she has worked in Medicaid for more than 20 years and served 3½ years as chief of staff and deputy director of programs at the department. "At its core, a Medicaid program's role is to purchase access to health care for some of the state's most vulnerable citizens," she said, adding that Medicaid covers "about 60 percent of the state's children, as well as pregnant women and a large portion of the state's disabled population." She said one recent administrative change — consolidating the state's preferred drug list to a single state-directed list — is projected to save the state more than $21,000,000 a year.
The committee chair asked standard confirmation questions about financial disclosures, conflicts and background; staff reported Medina's personal data questionnaire and statement of economic interest were complete. Medina answered the committee's routine ethics and background questions in the negative, including that she has no relevant arrests, investigations, tax liens, bankruptcies or lobbying history.
Committee members praised Medina's experience and her work with former Director Robbie Kerr. After discussion concluded, the committee moved to a voice/hand-raise vote on a favorable report to the full Senate; the chair declared the vote unanimous.
The committee chair and several senators stated they expect the clerk of the Senate to make the nomination available to the full chamber; Medina was reminded that the confirmation process continues with the Senate clerk and then a full Senate vote. Medina said, "My intention, if confirmed by the Senate, is to continue looking for fiscally responsible innovative solutions that improve outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries," and described priorities including behavioral health evaluation, provider-rate investments and support for the physician workforce.
No formal concerns were recorded on the record; committee members said they were satisfied with her interviews and subcommittee meetings.
Votes at a glance: The committee reported Medina favorably by a unanimous voice/hand-raise vote (count not specified in the transcript).
