Undersecretary
As Undersecretary, Jerry Phillips administers and directs the Office of Management and Finance and manages the Department’s $8 billion budget. He also oversees the Medicaid program and the administrative divisions with departmental responsibilities for budget preparation, financial forecasting, purchasing, personnel, training, contracting, program evaluation, quality assurance, payment management, accounting, data processing, and strategic and operational planning. Prior to his position as DHH Undersecretary, Mr. Phillips held several key management positions within the Department, including Deputy General Counsel, Medicaid Deputy Director and Medicaid Director.
Mr. Phillips is a retired colonel of the United States Marine Corps. Reserve (1972–2001) and a Desert Storm veteran. He earned a Bachelor degree in History with minor in Economics from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Chapman College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi.
The following is a list of the administrative operations (see Org Chart) of the Office of Management and Finance:
Bureau of Health Services Financing is the administrative operation responsible for the Medicaid program. Medicaid is the public insurance program which provides health care services to the elderly, disabled and low-income persons. Funded by both federal and state governments, Medicaid provides medical benefits such as physician, hospital, laboratory, x-ray, and nursing home services; optional programs include services such as pharmacy and intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded (ICF/MR). Medicaid also provides funding for all Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) otherwise known as waiver services.
Division of Health Economics provides economic analyses, forecasting and financial research and planning for the department, particularly in regard to the Medicaid program.
Division of Fiscal Management performs the payment management, financial reporting and accounting functions for the department.
The Deputy Undersecretary reports to the Undersecretary. He oversees the following:
Division of Contracts and Procurement Support provides contract and lease management services, procure goods and services for DHH offices, and provides property control, telecommunications, mail room, copier management and vehicle management functions for the office.
Division of Human Resources, Training and Staff Development develops and carries out departmental personnel management functions, including payroll, training and staff development.
Division of Planning & Budget develops, prepares and manages the department's budget and strategic planning process.
Health Education Authority of Louisiana helps public and nonprofit organizations in the health care, health education and bioscience fields plan, acquire and/or constructs facilities within a ten-mile radius of the Medical Center of Louisiana -- New Orleans (formerly Charity Hospital) and assists them in acquiring low-cost financing through bonds for these projects.
