Linda Wiant’s departure appeared to come suddenly and followed the exit of a deputy, Marcey Alter, earlier in the week. News outlets also report on the trial involving the Mississippi Medicaid director and developments in New Hampshire and Maine.


Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger:
Medicaid Chief Explains Emails, Says He Wasn’t Offered Job By Contractor


The director of the Mississippi Division of Medicaid talked about job opportunities with executives — one he called a friend — for a company his agency eventually awarded a $2 billion contract. Molina Healthcare officials said they asked Medicaid Director David Dzielak to help them find candidates for leadership positions with its Mississippi Medicaid health plan — a year before they got the contract and months before the department advertised for the Mississippi Medicaid managed care contract. (Wolfe, 8/15)


New Hampshire Public Radio:
Feds’ Warning To N.H. Over Medicaid Expansion Raises Stakes In Key Policy Debate


New Hampshire has a long history of coming up with solutions to fund its Medicaid program that — depending on how you look at it — are either creative or a little crooked. … The federal government recently went even further in their assessment of the funding mechanism, saying New Hampshire’s use of payments from hospitals and insurers might also possibly be illegal. (McDermott, 8/15)


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