Pennsylvania Governor-elect Tom Wolf has appointed former Department of Public Welfare Secretary Estelle Richman to advise him on Medicaid matters during his transition period.
Richman served as secretary of the Department of Public Welfare – now the Department of Human Services – from 2003 to 2009, during the administration of former governor Ed Rendell.
Richman is expected to focus on the expansion of the state’s Medicaid program, authorized under the federal Affordable Care Act and to begin on January 1 as part of Governor Corbett’s Healthy Pennsylvania program.  Instead of expanding the state’s traditional Medicaid program, Healthy Pennsylvania will involve those newly eligible for Medicaid choosing from a pool of private insurers selected by the state, with their insurance premiums to be paid with federal Medicaid funds.
Learn more about Ms. Richman and her expected role in the Wolf transition in this Harrisburg Patriot-News article.