Republicans on a Minnesota Senate committee try to find the cause of continued problems in the state Human Services Department in the second of a series of hearings this morning at the Capitol. They’ve asked the Walz administration a number of questions, and Ham Lake Senator Michelle Benson says if they get written responses, they don’t have to “drag people up and have them give testimony — but if they’re just not going to answer, then we are going to bring them forward.”
Benson indicated earlier than Republicans will take necessary steps to get answers — and even subpoenas are not off the table if other requests are not productive.
Benson says they also want to know why the department put all brand-name medications — no generics — in certain categories on its preferred drug list. “Is there an incentive to gather rebates for those branded drugs?” she asks. “What happens if a patient is on drug that isn’t on a preferred drug list? Can they get it? Do they have to pay out-of-pocket?” Benson says they’ll also examine the department’s Medicaid procurement process, because some county-based purchasing plans don’t believe they were treated fairly.