Stier named to guide Iowa Medicaid program

DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Human Services has a new state director for its Medicaid program.

DHS Director Charles Palmer announced Friday that Mikki Stier has been appointed director of the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME), which oversees the $4.2 billion program serving more than a half a million Iowans each year.

In her new role effective May 27, Stier - currently employed as vice president of government and external relations at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines - will serve as the primary architect for establishing the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise's goals for optimal health outcomes for low-income Iowans, and for financial performance of the state-run insurance program.

'Mikki Stier has many years of leadership experience in health care and working with government, and she understands the needs of Iowans who receive Medicaid benefits,” Palmer said in a statement. 'She will have the opportunity to help shape the state's health delivery reform efforts and oversee the state's Medicaid Modernization Initiative. Together, we will put a greater focus on patient outcomes and create a more sustainable and predictable Medicaid budget.”

In February, DHS began the process of shifting management of the state Medicaid program to private vendors. DHS officials released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Gov. Terry Branstad's Medicaid Modernization - an initiative aimed at improving coordination and quality of care while providing predictability and sustainability for taxpayers in Medicaid spending.

The Iowa High Quality Health Care Initiative asked for bids from potential vendors as the state moves toward a risk-based managed care approach for Iowa's Medicaid program. The main objectives of the change would be to improve service quality and access, promote accountability for outcomes and create a more predictable and sustainable Medicaid budget, according to the department.

'This is a great opportunity for all Iowans as we work together to evolve the Iowa Medicaid program to deliver quality, patient-centered health care that is cost effective,” Stier said in a statement. 'I'm looking forward to being part of the leadership team that is implementing this transition.”

Stier, who holds a master's degree in health administration from the University of Colorado and a bachelor's of science in occupational therapy from Colorado State, has more than 33 years of health care experience in several states, having worked with hospital startup, restructuring, development and growth in a number of executive positions.

At Broadlawns, she was most recently the senior executive responsible for external relations that included building an external network of business leaders and legislators to support the hospital's operations. She helped develop the hospital's strategic plan and worked regularly with local and national lawmakers on policy issues.

Julie Lovelady has served as interim director.

Jennifer Vermeer left the post early last July. Julie Lovelady has served as IME interim director since Vermeer's departure. She will return to her post as assistant Medicaid director when Stier begins her new duties later this month.