Sandeep Wadhwa was appointed earlier this month as director of Colorado’s Medicaid program — a position in the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing that has been vacant for nearly a year.
Beginning in March, Wadhwa will oversee three public insurance programs that deliver care to 615,000 poor, elderly and children in Colorado — Medicaid, Child Health Plan Plus and the Colorado Indigent Care program.
Wadhwa, 40, also is a faculty member at the Seniors Clinic on the University of Colorado Denver’s An schutz Medical Campus.
He previously worked at McKesson Health Solutions, where he consulted with states managing Medicaid, Medicare and commercial health insurance plans.
Q: Why did you take on this new challenge?
A: I have dedicated my career to improving the health of populations, particularly vulnerable populations. While I’m a physician, I have always been interested in health systems and how health systems can be used and structured to improve the health of populations.
It’s a thrilling opportunity to be part of a team at a time when there are so many exciting changes going on.
Q: What sort of changes?
A: Several things are going on in terms of the department’s interest in expanding coverage and developing innovative solutions to improving health through quality and disease management. I’m really excited to explore ways to engage providers to participate in serving Colorado’s vulnerable populations.
Q: Colorado’s Medicaid program was recently ranked 43rd among states in the richness of benefits it offers and the limited number of people it serves. What are some of the greatest challenges Colorado Medicaid faces today?
A: Three things. One is provider participation. The providers are our clients as well as the beneficiaries, and strategies could include expansion of programs and (addressing) some satisfaction issues, the functioning of administration and support.
Another is how we expand coverage while being extremely customer-centric. We want there to be a perception and reality that this is the highest-quality program.
Third is how do we cost-effectively maximize the health and well-being of this population within the money we have. This may be disease management programs, care coordination, establishing a medical home for everyone.
Q: Tell me a bit about how your own background will help you in this new work.
A: I have a real interest in the needs of the disabled and long- term-care populations. I’m a geriatrician by training. I’m very excited to see how a big public payer can help improve the well-being and quality of life of those beneficiaries.
The needs of the poor and the disabled and the elderly, that could be any of us, any one of our family members. How we serve that population says a lot about who we are.
Answers edited for length and clarity.
