DeSaulnier to Evaluate Performance of Critical Health and Human Services Systems
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michael Miiller, Communications Director
(916) 651-4007 or (916) 204-0485, michael.miiller@sen.ca.gov
Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) today sent a letter to Diana Dooley, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency asking for her help in evaluating the safety net “to ensure that we are still meeting our missions and verifying performance through measurements and outcomes.”
In his letter, DeSaulnier, Chair of the Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services for the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, wrote, “As we plan for this next cycle of budget hearings . . . . these responses will enable us to focus more directly on how individual budget decisions are feeding in to the overall mission of our health and human services systems.”
DeSaulnier asked Dooley to identify goals and objectives of the most critical outcomes of our health and human services safety net programs for needy and vulnerable individuals and families in the following areas:
· Human Services;
· Developmental Disabilities Services;
· Long Term Care;
· Implementation of 1115 Medicaid Waiver and federal Affordable Care Act; and
· Community Mental Health
DeSaulnier asked for a written response by February 24, 2012. Those responses will be incorporated into the budget subcommittee hearings that begin in March.
In 2010, as Chair of Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee #4, DeSaulnier asked numerous state agencies and departments under his purview to provide information to assist in evaluating their performance. DeSaulnier was also a joint author of SB 14 to provide a statutory framework for the implementation of performance-based budgeting. SB 14 was ultimately vetoed, but on December 8th, Governor Brown issued Executive Order #B-13-11 to require the Director of Finance to “create a plan for modifying the budget process to increase efficiency and focus on accomplishing program goals.” DeSaulnier’s request coincides with the goals of the Governor.
Letter Attached
Senator Mark DeSaulnier represents the Seventh District which includes most of Contra Costa County.
