OLMSTEAD UPDATES

News blog follows implementation of landmark 2014 federal consent decree that requires Rhode Island to remedy violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the U.S. Supreme Court's Olmstead decision. Over ten years, Rhode Island must reinvent state services for citizens with developmental disabilities to give them opportunities for supportive employment and meaningful activities in their communities.

By Gina Macris

Rhode Island’s chief health and human services executive, Womazetta Jones, will serve as interim director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) and conduct a “thorough review” of the agency, Governor Daniel McKee announced April 9.

BHDDH has been beset by controversy over the discharge of some long-time patients of Eleanor Slater Hospital who, advocates say, have been left without the support they need in the community.

BHDDH officials have denied the reduction in patients is a cost-cutting measure. The state may have to compensate for tens of millions of dollars of federal Medicaid funding for Eleanor Slater Hospital which it had counted on to balance the BHDDH budget until mid-2019.

Jones will continue her work as Executive Secretary of Health and Human Services while serving at BHDDH, according to McKee spokesman Matt Sheaff. That means she is expected to be hands-on at BHDDH while also overseeing three other agencies: the Departments of Health, Human Services, and Children, Youth and Families.

McKee said in a statement he wants Jones to make recommendations to him “on issues including, but not limited to, departmental policy, operations, staffing and quality standards for patient care.”

Jones is stepping in for A. Kathryn Power, whose resignation McKee announced April 5.