Oregon’s Medicaid director to head Hawaii Med-QUEST division

HONOLULU — The director of Oregon’s medical assistance programs will head Hawaii’s Medicaid program.

The Hawaii Department of Human Services says Judy Mohr Peterson will start her job as administrator of the Med-QUEST division on July 1. She served as Oregon’s state Medicaid director since 2009.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports Mohr Peterson will start the new job amid problems with an online eligibility system estimated to cost taxpayers as much as $144 million.

The position has been vacant since February when the department ousted Kenny Fink, who led the program since 2008.

He oversaw the eligibility system that has raised complaints of constant freezes, frequently lost applicant information and other issues.

Gov. David Ige says Mohr Peterson’s leadership in Oregon is ideal as Hawaii considers innovations in its Medicaid programs.