ATLANTA – The government agency that runs Georgia’s Medicaid program is asking for $7.2 million for a new [.fow1-1]initiative[.fow1-1] aimed at improving [.fow1-2]oversight[.fow1-2] of the private companies that manage health care for Georgians who receive Medicaid.

The Georgia Board of Community Health voted Thursday to apply for the [.fow2-1]funds[.fow2-1] as part of the Department of Community Health’s (DCH) 2024 mid-year [.fow2-2]budget[.fow2-2] request.

Most of the money would go toward adding 49 positions to give the department the ability to guess where the Medicaid program is headed rather than having to wait to see the [.fow2-2]budget[.fow2-2] needs each year, DCH Chief Operating Officer Joe Hood told board members before Thursday’s vote.

“We'd like to be looking at trends in advance, not just on the back end,” he said.

With Georgia sitting on a lot of extra money, Gov. Brian Kemp has given agencies across the government the ability to ask for increases of 3% in their 2024 mid-year and 2025 [.fow2-2][.fow2-2]budget requests.

“This is our first opportunity in some time to ask for new [.fow2-1]funds[.fow2-1],” Hood said.

The new [.fow1-2]oversight[.fow1-2] [.fow1-1]initiative[.fow1-1] comes as the DCH prepares to select private care management organizations (CMOs) to run Georgia’s Medicaid program. The increase in workers is aimed at helping the agency make the right choices.

“We [aren't given enough money] for a state of our size for our CMOs,” Hood said.

Meanwhile, the DCH also is asking for $1.3 million in its 2025 [.fow2-2]budget[.fow2-2] for 7% pay raises for employees in the agency’s Healthcare Facility Regulation Division, which is responsible for hospitals and nursing homes.

Hood said the raises would help reduce staff quitting.

“We need to be closer to the market [prices],” he said. “This gives us some opportunity to do that.

”Finally, the board is suggesting to reduce next year's DCH [.fow2-2]budget[.fow2-2] by $1.4 million, which would come from spending less on non-government contracts.

Other than allowing 3% [.fow3-1]spending[.fow3-1] increases, Kemp’s [.fow2-2]budget[.fow2-2] instructions also asked state agencies to look for ways to cut their [.fow3-1]spending[.fow3-1] by 1%.

The governor will present his [.fow2-2]budget[.fow2-2] requests to the General Assembly in January.