13 July 2005

Governor Sebelius appoints Dr. Robert Day to oversee efforts to make health care more accessible and affordable

Governor Kathleen Sebelius today announced the appointment of Dr. Robert Day as director of the Division of Health Policy and Finance within the Department of Administration. In this role, Dr. Day will oversee the state’s efforts to reduce the cost of health care and help more Kansans obtain health coverage.

“Last November, I proposed streamlining our state’s health care operations as part of an effort to improve efficiency, lower costs, and improve quality in health care. This spring, the Legislature agreed to join in the goal of helping more Kansans get access to quality, affordable health care,” Governor Sebelius said. “We’re continuing to work to make health care more affordable and Dr. Day will be an important leader in these efforts.”

The Division of Health Policy and Finance will manage state medical expenditures totaling $1.6 billion, including Medicaid, SCHIP, and MediKan, as well as the state employee benefit group, which is comprised of the State of Kansas workers compensation program and the state employee health benefit.

Prior to joining the Health Policy and Finance division, Dr. Day served as director of the Medical Policy/Medicaid Division of Health Care Policy at SRS. In addition to experience at SRS, Day has held positions throughout his career at the Health Care Financing Administration, the Kansas Neurological Institute and Parsons State Hospital and Training Center. He has extensive educational experience as well. Day completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, in 2001. He received his Ph.D., in special education from George Peabody College for Teachers of Vanderbilt University, Tennessee, in 1981. In 1973, Day obtained his M.Ed., in special education, mental retardation, at the University of Seattle, Washington. He received his B.A. in psychology from the same institution in 1970.

Legislation also calls for a Health Care Authority board comprised of nine voting members to be selected by the Legislature and the Governor. Appointments to the Authority will be announced in August. The Board will help to oversee the operations of the new division.

One hundred and twenty five staff members have been transferred from SRS to this new Division.