Department of Community Health Announces Reorganization

On March 21, the new Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health ("DCH"), Dr. Rhonda M. Medows, announced an internal reorganization and several significant staff changes.  These changes include the creation of a DCH Office of Inspector General which will oversee the Department's Program Integrity Section and a newly created Compliance and Internal Audits unit.  The creation of this Office will likely herald increased DCH compliance and enforcement activity. Further, the Division of Health Planning will be reorganized to house the Health Data Unit and the Certificate of Need program.

Several members of DCH's existing staff received promotions and new employees were added at senior-level positions. Among the changes in staff are:  

• General Counsel - Charemon Grant will assume responsibilities of the General Counsel.  The Office of General Counsel will have oversight of Legal Services, Division of Health Planning, and Contracts Administration.

• Executive Director of the Division of Health Planning - Rhathelia Stroud has responsibility for the Health Data Unit and the Certificate of Need Program. 

• Director of Contract Administration - Donald Horace will oversee the management of over 400 contracts in DCH.  This reorganization moves all activities associated with the drafting and negotiations of new contracts, Memorandums of Understanding, engagement letters, contract renewals, amendments and terminations from the Office of Administrative Services into the Operations Division to the office of General Counsel.

• Inspector General -  Doug Colburn will serve as DCH’s Inspector General.  The Office of Inspector General will include the Program Integrity Unit and a newly created Compliance and Internal Audits Unit. 

• Managed Care Division,  Director of CMO Quality Management - Adriane Saunders is responsible for monitoring and oversight of the quality programs of the CMOs and future quality goals for Georgia Healthy Families.

Please contact D.J. Jeyaram at 404.495.3656 or djeyaram@mmmlaw.com if you have any questions concerning these changes at DCH and what they mean for your organization.

About the Author:

Deepak (“D.J.”) Jeyaram is an associate in the firm’s healthcare group. His experience includes working in-house with Georgia Medicaid as Deputy Director of Legal Services. D.J. was also an Administrative Law Judge who presided over disputes between the Georgia Department of Community Health and Medicaid providers.