FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Nan Gonzalez, District #1 Commission Office
               (239) 335-2224

COMMISSIONER JANES TO SERVE ON NATIONAL MEDICAID REFORM GROUP

FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 3, 2004) - Lee County Commissioner Bob Janes has been appointed to a national committee on Medicaid reform.

National Association of Counties (NACo) President Karen Miller has appointed Janes to NACo's Medicaid Working Group.

The working group was formed at the request of Tommy Thompson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Secretary Thompson is hopeful of a Medicaid reform effort in Congress this year, and at a meeting with NACo officials in January reiterated his interest in working with NACo on this issue.

The first meeting of the working group will be Feb. 29 at NACo's Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

Janes serves as chairman of NACo's Medicaid Indigent Subcommittee and chairman of the Florida Association of Counties' (FAC) Health and Human Services Committee.

He has received a number of recognitions for his leadership in Mental Health, Medicaid and Human Services issues including the Community Coordinating Council's 2002 Human Service Award for "Most Outstanding Public Official," 2003 "Advocate of the Year" by the Lee County chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and a 2003 "Special Recognition Award" from the Ruth Cooper Center for going above and beyond his duties as a county commissioner to support mental health and behavioral care programs in the community.

Commissioner Janes was elected to the Board of Lee County Commissioners in 2000 and served as chairman in 2002. He represents District 1, which includes Sanibel, Captiva, Pine Island, Boca Grande and portions of Cape Coral.

Commissoner Janes has been very active in Human Services and Mental Health issues at the local, state and national levels. He also is the Board's liaison to efforts to purchase Babcock Ranch for preservation.