| |
|
| |
| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
| |
| SENATE RESOLUTION |
|
| |
| |
| INTRODUCED BY ORIE, ALLOWAY, BROWNE, FARNESE, McILHINNEY, RAFFERTY AND WAUGH, NOVEMBER 25, 2009 |
| |
| |
| REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, NOVEMBER 25, 2009 |
| |
| |
| |
| A RESOLUTION |
| |
1 | Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to |
2 | conduct a study of the feasibility and cost savings |
3 | associated with transferring functions from the Department of |
4 | Health to other departments or agencies as well as merging |
5 | the duties of the Department of Health with the Department of |
6 | Public Welfare. |
7 | WHEREAS, The Commonwealth faced a $3.2 billion deficit in |
8 | fiscal year 2008-2009, and a number of program cuts were |
9 | achieved in the fiscal year 2009-2010 budget; and |
10 | WHEREAS, The Commonwealth must continue to explore a broad |
11 | range of options to achieve additional savings and limit the |
12 | possibility of future revenue shortfalls; and |
13 | WHEREAS, It seems prudent to study how best to rightsize |
14 | various State agencies and stop spending taxpayers' funds on |
15 | redundant administrative costs, starting with the Department of |
16 | Health; and |
17 | WHEREAS, The Department of Health and the Department of |
18 | Public Welfare both have deputy secretaries, bureaus and offices |
19 | for children, youth and families, alcohol and drug abuse |
20 | prevention, hospital operations and medical assistance and |
|
1 | managed care; and |
2 | WHEREAS, There are areas of program duplication and systems |
3 | design within the Department of Health, including an Office of |
4 | Health Care Reform; and |
5 | WHEREAS, There may be some areas within the Department of |
6 | Health, such as Emergency Medical Services, that could be better |
7 | served in other State agencies, such as the Pennsylvania |
8 | Emergency Management Agency; and |
9 | WHEREAS, Twelve states have a joint department of Public |
10 | Welfare and Health, and three states have a joint department of |
11 | Health and Environment; therefore be it |
12 | RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee |
13 | conduct a study of the feasibility and cost savings associated |
14 | with transferring functions from the Department of Health to |
15 | other departments or agencies as well as merging the duties of |
16 | the Department of Health with the Department of Public Welfare; |
17 | and be it further |
18 | RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee |
19 | explore a broad range of options with regard to how to structure |
20 | health services to best manage the resources of the |
21 | Commonwealth; and be it further |
22 | RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee |
23 | report its findings, along with recommendations as appropriate, |
24 | to the Senate within one year of adoption of this resolution. |
|