The Alaska House Health and Social Services Committee passed House Special Concurrent Resolution 1 on Tuesday that would reject the governor’s Executive Order 119, which proposes splitting the Department of Health and Social Services into two distinct agencies. The two distinct agencies include the Department of Family and Community Services and the Department of Health.
Under the Department of Family and Community Services, vulnerable Alaskans would be the top priority, focusing on early intervention and prevention to strengthen Alaska families and provide a focused approach to services for individual Alaskans, according to the office of Governor Mike Dunleavy. The department would include four divisions, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Office of Children’s Services, the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, and Alaska Pioneer Homes.
The Alaska Department of Health would aim to promote and protect the health and wellbeing of Alaskans. It would serve as the eligibility, payment and data department that focuses on practices and healthcare models to make appropriate care available to recipients. The department would consist of the Division of Senior & Disability Services, the Division of Public Health, the Division of Public Assistance and the Division of Health Care Services. Each department would include a division for Finance and Management Services.
Members of the House committee, however, argue that Emergency Order 119 rushes the process to split the department in a way that could carry consequences for Alaskans. The committee voted 6-1, which will receive a referral to a standing committee in the Senate before potentially going before a joint meeting of the House and Senate for final consideration.