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Politics

DOH Reorganization Gains in House

March 22, 2010 - 7:00pm


An "outside the box" plan to reorganize the Florida Department of Health sailed through the House Health Care Regulation Policy Committee on Monday.

Sponsored by Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, the legislation reduces the Department of Healths mission from 13 to seven responsibilities and would require DOH to propose a new organizational structure, including reduction of divisions and bureaus, to the Legislature by November 2010.

This bill is an outside of the box approach as to how we run the state government, Hudson said. The bill "will address directly" the agency's ability to create new programs without legislative authority, he said.

To others, it was too far outside.

Rep. Yolly Roberson, D-Miami, asked Hudson if the Department of Health had been consulted on his bill. Hudson replied that he had reached out to them, but they had yet to meet in person, exchanging "lengthy" correspondence via email instead.

Surgeon General Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros spoke out strongly against the bill. This piece of legislation would severely impact our ability to reach out to Floridians, she said.

Ros said DOH was already reorganizing per a legislative mandate from 2009. The agency reduced the number of deputy secretaries from five to three, she noted. Hudsons bill would limit DOH outreach programs involving diabetes, breast and cervical cancer, heart diseases, and stroke prevention, she said. In addition, she said, the state would lose federal dollars.

Thirty-six percent of our funding comes from federals dollars, Ros said. This will all go away with this bill.

Ros blasted Hudson for releasing the bill on Thursday evening without warning and said, We are disappointed that we have not had a dialogue with Rep. Hudson.

Rep. James Bush, D-Miami, also voiced concern that Hudsons bill would lead to layoffs. Ros could not provide a projection for how many employees might be let go if Hudsons proposal becomes law.

Florida Public Health Association Legislative Consultant Christopher Nuland said his organization also had reservations about the legislation. We have fundamental concerns about the bill, he said. Outreach programs are a fitting duty for the DOH, and they do it well.

When asked if his organization could manage health outreach efforts, Nuland said, We dont have the size and we dont have the resources for such a mission.

The agency was created in 1996 under Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles. It has 17,000 employees anda budget of $2.9 billion. The DOH operates health facilities in all 67 counties in Florida, overseeing school health programs, health education and outreach, emergency preparedness, bioterrorism planning, chronic and communicable disease prevention, nutrition and environmental health.

Despite objections, and the fact there is no similar bill in the Senate, the committee approved Hudsons legislation 11- 2.

This is a very complex bill and has the potential for sweeping changes in a frontline agency. said Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee. This bill has been rushed through, and the department that has the expertise has not been allowed enough time to study it.

Rehwinkle Vaslilindajoined Roberson in voting against the bill.

Sen. Durell Peaden, R-Crestview, chairman of the Senates Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee, expressed opposition to the measure saying it would not save the state money, and it was too late in the session to review new legislation. A member of Hudsons staff said that the measure does not have a sponsor in the Senate.

Kevin Derby is a reporter for the Sunshine State News and can be reached at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com

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