DHHS Cost Savings Suggestion Award Program

As partners in managing the state's Medicaid program, we know you have insight on how to achieve efficiencies for our state.

Did you know that the Department of Health and Human Services could pay you for your cost savings suggestions? DHHS operates an award program that can pay you up to $500 for identifying improvements that result in savings.

Specifics about the awards program are outlined below. Feel free to call the Public Information Office if you have further questions. (803) 898-2865.

Thank you for your work in providing care to South Carolina's Medicaid population. Together, we can manage the Medicaid program to provide the best healthcare value for our state. We look forward to hearing from you!

DHHS Cost Savings Suggestion Award Program

Cost savings suggestions must be submitted in writing to the DHHS Public Information Office via email, the DHHS website, letter or fax. (Contact info. is listed below.) Suggestions must contain the name, employer and contact information of the individual making the suggestion. DHHS will verify the general qualification of the submission and will forward qualified submissions to the agency Director.

The DHHS Director will appoint a committee to examine each suggestion and a deadline for reporting findings. The committee will consist of at least one individual from each of the following areas : program, fiscal, legal, program integrity, program support areas, and information technology. The Director may appoint any other individual(s) necessary for a thorough evaluation of the suggestion. The Director will designate a committee chair to facilitate meetings, assign member tasks, and ensure evaluation is proceeding expeditiously given the deadline assigned.

The committee's report of findings must include a detailed analysis of impact of the suggestion on each of the following areas: program, fiscal, legal, program integrity, program support areas, and information technology. The report must also include a recommendation regarding implementation of the suggestion and, if the recommendation is for implementation, a proposed timeframe and any requirements that must be met, such as a State Plan Amendment or Medicaid Bulletin.

The Director will review the committee's report with the agency's Deputy Directors to ensure that the committee's investigation was thorough and to determine a course of action regarding the suggestion. Upon Director's approval, the suggestion will be implemented in a suitable timeframe.

Twelve months after implementation, the Director will re-convene the committee to review the overall effectiveness of the suggestion. Should a vacancy occur in the committee because of personnel changes, the Director will appoint another individual from the same agency area. The Director will assign a deadline for completion of this review.

If savings can be directly attributed and accurately quantified, the individual making the suggestion will be deemed a winner and awarded 10% of the state savings generated (up to $500) for the 12-month period after implementation. This will be the only cash award to the individual for that suggestion. Individuals may make multiple suggestions.

The DHHS Public Information Office will be responsible for communicating with the individual making the suggestion about the progress and results of the agency's review.

The Director is authorized to make changes to this procedure as necessary to ensure efficient and effective operation of cost savings suggestion award program.

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