Department of Health requests staffing, technology and enrollment funding across Medicaid programs

The Wyoming Department of Health presented multiple exception requests to the Joint Appropriations Committee on Dec. 8 spanning Medicaid eligibility staffing, technology upgrades, enrollment increases and provider reimbursement initiatives.

Long‑term care eligibility staffing: Director Stephan Johansen and state Medicaid agent Jesse Springer asked the committee to convert or add two positions in the long‑term care eligibility unit to address growing caseloads. Springer told the committee that caseworkers have averages exceeding 600 cases each and in some cases approach 700, which has driven processing times above federal timeliness standards (about 45 days). The department said adding two staffers — funded largely by a 75% federal match — would reduce backlog and timeliness errors; Johansen characterized the state share as modest, noting an estimate of roughly $63,000 general fund with about…