§ 63A-13-201 — Creation of office -- Inspector general -- Appointment -- Term.

(1) There is created an independent entity within the department known as the "Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services."
(2) The governor shall:

(2)(a) appoint the inspector general of Medicaid services with the advice and consent of the Senate; and
(2)(b) establish the salary for the inspector general of Medicaid services based upon a recommendation from the Division of Human Resource Management which shall be based on a market salary survey conducted by the Division of Human Resource Management.
(3) A person appointed as the inspector general shall have the following qualifications:

(3)(a) a general knowledge of the type of methodology and controls necessary to audit, investigate, and identify fraud, waste, and abuse;
(3)(b) strong management skills;
(3)(c) extensive knowledge of performance audit methodology;
(3)(d) the ability to oversee and execute an audit; and
(3)(e) strong interpersonal skills.
(4) The inspector general of Medicaid services:

(4)(a) shall serve a term of four years; and
(4)(b) may be removed by the governor, for cause.
(5) If the inspector general is removed for cause, a new inspector general shall be appointed, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to serve the remainder of the term of the inspector general of Medicaid services who was removed for cause.
(6) The Office of Inspector General of Medicaid Services:

(6)(a) is not under the supervision of, and does not take direction from, the executive director, except for administrative purposes;
(6)(b) shall use the legal services of the state attorney general's office;
(6)(c) shall submit a budget for the office directly to the department;
(6)(d) except as prohibited by federal law, is subject to:
(6)(d)(i) Title 51, Chapter 5, Funds Consolidation Act;
(6)(d)(ii) Title 51, Chapter 7, State Money Management Act;
(6)(d)(iii) Title 63A, Utah Government Operations Code;
(6)(d)(iv) Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act;
(6)(d)(v) Title 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative Procedures Act;
(6)(d)(vi) Title 63G, Chapter 6a, Utah Procurement Code;
(6)(d)(vii) Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act;
(6)(d)(viii) Title 63J, Chapter 2, Revenue Procedures and Control Act;
(6)(d)(ix) Chapter 17, Utah State Personnel Management Act;
(6)(d)(x) Title 67, Chapter 16, Utah Public Officers' and Employees' Ethics Act;
(6)(d)(xi) Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act;
(6)(d)(xii) Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act; and
(6)(d)(xiii) coverage under the Risk Management Fund created under Section 63A-4-201;
(6)(e) when requested, shall provide reports to the governor, the president of the Senate, or the speaker of the House; and
(6)(f) shall adopt administrative rules to establish policies for employees that are substantially similar to the administrative rules adopted by the Division of Human Resource Management.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 344, 2021 General Session