JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Some longtime Medicaid employees are being notified by the state that they must prove their educational qualifications or lose their jobs.
The state employees union is calling the new requirement a political move.
Mississippi Alliance of State Employees President Brenda Scott said she had received more than 30 calls from Medicaid workers from across the state who were sent letters from the Medicaid Executive Director.
The correspondences notify Medicaid Specialists of their pre-termination conference dates and accuse them of falsification of records.
Scott said the workers, who in some cases have been on the job for decades, are being required to submit their educational transcripts and other information previously cleared by the State Personnel Board upon their initial hiring.
"I got a call this morning. A young lady had worked 36 years for the division. Now she is being asked to provide her transcript. So we hear also that there are a number of contract workers who are coming into Medicaid," said Scott.
Medicaid Specialists process the applications of residents trying to qualify for the program. they are required to have a bachelor's degree.
"We know what the agenda is for our state employees," said the Mississippi Alliance of State Employees President.
Officials with the state employee alliance view the new process as political.
"We believe that this could be a move or flow to circumvent the fact that workers did not lose their State Personnel Board protection this year," added Scott.
How many Medicaid employees are or will be affected is not known at this time.
We were unable to reach officials with the Division of Medicaid Tuesday for an interview or comment on the letters and process.
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