A snapshot of the Georgia Department of Community Health [Jan. 2009]

The Georgia Department Of Community Health

A SNAPSHOT OF THE

Georgia Department Of Community Health

Overview

The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) was created in 1999 to serve as the lead agency for health care planning and purchasing issues in Georgia. The General Assembly created DCH by consolidating four agencies involved in purchasing, planning and regulating health care. DCH is also designated as the single state agency for Medicaid.
Divisions/Offices
The Division of Medical Assistance administers the Medicaid program, which provides health care for people who are aged, blind, disabled or indigent. The division also administers PeachCare for KidsTM, policy development and the Medicaid Waiver Programs, as well as being responsible for establishing and directing the managed care efforts for Medicaid and PeachCare for KidsTM members.

The DCH Champions ACCESS to affordable, quality health
care in our communities
RESPONSIBLE health planning and use of health care resources
HEALTHY behaviors and improved health outcomes

The Office of General Counsel provides overall legal guidance and direction for the operations of the Department. This office also contains the Health Planning Division.
The Office of Inspector General is responsible for DCH's efforts to detect, prevent and investigate fraud and abuse in Medicaid, PeachCare for KidsTM and the State Health Benefit Plan, as well as fraud and abuse associated with DCH contracts.
State Health Benefit Plan provides public employee health insurance coverage to active and retired state, and school system employees and their dependents.
The Division of Financial Management represents the financial interests of the Department. It is comprised of the Office of Planning and Fiscal Analyses, Financial and Accounting Services, Reimbursement Services and the Budget Office.
The Office of Legislative Affairs and External Affairs primarily works with the General Assembly and analyzes legislation that affects the Department's programs such as Medicaid, the State Health Benefit Plan and health care in general. This office also handles constituent services for the Department.

DCH Health
Policy Priorities
2009
Medicaid Transformation Health Care Consumerism Financial and Program Integrity Health Improvement Solutions for the Uninsured Workforce Development PeachCare for KidsTM Program Stability SHBP Evolution Customer Service

The Office of Communications oversees media relations, public relations, strategic communications and Web site operations for the Department.

The Operations Division consists of the Office of Vendor and Grant Management, Human Resources, Support Services, the Office of Health Policy and Strategy, and the Department's five health improvement programs in the Office of Health Improvement (OHI), which are the Office of Minority Health, the Office of Women's Health, the Georgia Commission on Men's Health, the Georgia Volunteers in Health Care program and the State Office of Rural Health. This division is also responsible for overseeing the management of the state's Fiscal Agent that operates the Medicaid Management Information System.

The Office of Health Improvement focuses on education, heightened awareness and network development to change the current state of health disparities in Georgia by focusing on four major health diseases: heart disease and stroke, diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS

The State Office of Rural Health (SORH) manages programs to develop regional, quality health care systems to optimize health status and improve health outcomes in rural and underserved areas of Georgia

Information Technology is comprised of five units, including the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) unit, which

2 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Ga 30303 www.dch.georgia.gov

January 2009

A Snapshot Of DCH

supports the various systems used for the processing, collecting, analyzing and reporting of information needed to support all Medicaid and PeachCare for KidsTM claim payment functions; SHBP unit, which supports the Member Enrollment Management System that provides health insurance coverage to SHBP members; Information Technology and Infrastructure unit, which provides IT security and technical support for all DCH divisions; Health Information Technology and Transparency unit, which unit provides IT and administrative support to the HITT Advisory Board; and the Project Management Office unit, which is responsible for promoting project management standards throughout DCH.
The Office of Health Information Transparency and Technology is responsible for leading the strategic efforts of the State of Georgia for health information technology adoption and health information exchange to improve health care delivery for providers, health care professionals and consumers

Advisory Boards & Councils
The Board of Community Health is a nine-person board appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, which has policy-making authority for the Department.
Health Information Technology and Transparency (HITT) Advisory Board was created by the Governor in 2006 and is comprised of members who are appointed by the Commissioner. This board advises DCH on the best practices for encouraging the use of electronic health records and establishing a statewide strategy to enable health information to be readily available and transparent.
The Minority Health Advisory Council is dedicated to improving the health of minority populations in the state of Georgia. The 12-member council, appointed by the DCH Commissioner, provides leadership in the development of a health care strategic plan that addresses improvements in the health status for minority populations.
The Health Strategies Council is responsible for assisting the Department in developing Georgia's State Health Plan and addressing policy issues concerning access to health care services.
The Georgia Drug Utilization Review Board promotes patient safety through an increased review and awareness of outpatient prescribed drugs. The 20-member board, appointed by the DCH Commissioner, recommends medical criteria, standards and educational intervention methods used in the Drug Utilization Review program.
Georgia Commission on Men's Health assists the Department in promoting the improvement of the physical, social and mental health of men in the state of Georgia. The commission focuses on the development of statewide opportunities to promote awareness and disease prevention in men.
Women's Health Advisory Council assists the Department in promoting awareness of women's non-reproductive health issues in the state of Georgia.
Hospital Advisory Committee is comprised of 21 representatives of hospitals across the state. The committee's efforts focus around issues associated with the Disproportionate Share Hospital Program in the Indigent Care Trust Fund.
Georgia Physician Partnership is comprised of 10 physician representatives from across the state. The Partnership will offer the perspective of health care providers to DCH.

major health care initiatives

Attached Agencies
Composite State Board of Medical Examiners ensures quality health care for all Georgians by licensing qualified applicants as physicians, physician's assistants, physician residents in training, perfusionists, respiratory care professionals, acupuncturists and auricular (ear) detoxification specialists.
Georgia Board for Physician Workforce develops medical education programs to ensure communities are served by an adequate number of physicians.
State Medical Education Board administers medical scholarships and loans to promote medical practice in rural areas.