Pa. insurance commissioner to lead human services

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“We can count on her to listen to consumers and put form the best solution for individuals and families in Pennsylvania.”

“She has been a lead spokesperson for the administration in talking about the health care action in Washington and has demonstrated a really good grasp of the issues that are in the proposal and their impact on Pennsylvania.

And that would be a critical part of this new role if it comes to pass.” said Ray Landis, advocacy manager for AARP Pennsylvania.

“We have been very impressed with her background and knowledge on that and how it would impact the state, and particularly the Medicaid program.”

Mr. Landis also praised her work on behalf of consumers of long-term care insurance.

In an interview in June, Ms. Miller said she has been drawn in her career to the field of health insurance regulation because it is a product that has a huge impact on people’s lives.

She will have plenty of opportunity to impact lives in her new role, which will oversee a slew of programs covering everything from child welfare, foster care and adoption assistance; to programs that serve the poor such as food stamps and heating assistance; intellectual disability and autism services including state centers for the disabled; state mental health hospitals and the Medicaid program — one of the largest cost drivers in the state’s budget, which provides health insurance for more than 2 million people in Pennsylvania.

Speaking in her Insurance Department Office in Harrisburg in June, Ms. Miller did not seem daunted by the scope of her task.

“One person doesn’t do it alone,” she said, adding that she knows the agency is staffed with experts who can help her.

Bev Mackereth, who headed the Department of Human Services for the latter part of former Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration, said a good human services secretary must have a host of people, policy and management skills — as well as being driven by the agency’s mission.

Recalling a meeting in Pittsburgh during her time as secretary when a large group of public assistance clients lambasted the department’s poor customer service to her in a public meeting, Ms. Makereth also said it’s crucial to “recognize that the people we serve are the most needy and at risk.”