Scott shrugs off Health Dept. overhaul
by John Kennedy | February 7th, 2012Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday he has little interest in a fellow Republican’s plan that guts the state’s Department of Health, while also closing Lantana’s A.G. Holley Hospital.
Even before he was sworn-in, Scott’s transition advisers gave him a blistering review of the DOH, dismissing it as a wasteful bureaucratic agency ripe for change. Legislation by Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, would decentralize most of the department’s services, and give county commissions authority to run county health departments.
So far, though, the proposal looks like a no-sale with Scott.
“I’m trying to figure out what it does,” Scott said. “Does it improve quality? Does it reduce costs? Does it improve service? If if it doesn’t do something that makes the lives of Florida’s citizens better, why would we think about doing that?
“I haven’t seen anything — the way it’s been explained to me — in the bill that does any of those things,” Scott concluded.
Several public health advocates blasted Hudson’s proposal Monday when it cleared a House subcommittee.
The measure would largely get the state out of the business of running county health departments, turning them over to county commissions to operate. State and federal dollars would be steered in block grants to county governments, based on population, which would gain more control over how the dollars are spent.
About 12,000 state Health Department jobs would be slashed, although supporters of the move said many would convert to county positions. A.G. Holley’s closure, seen as another cost-saving move, would shutter Florida’s last remaining tuberculosis hospital, most likely by January.
February 7th, 2012 at 10:40 pm
Wow. Even Scott is starting to see what kind of idiots he is dealing with in Tallahassee. Ever since Rubio pushed Ammendment 1, the Tallahassee Repugnants have been looking for more ways to squeeze local governments. They will keep their own exhorbitant benefits – healthcare, pensions, spending accounts, and they will continue to use their offices to enrich themselves and their friends.
February 8th, 2012 at 10:24 am
Actually, Scott opposes this bill because it doesn’t go far enough for his tastes. He won’t be satisfied until the Department of Health is completely neutered and there’s no more state funding for primary care for Florida’s poor.
February 8th, 2012 at 10:34 am
FASCISTS.
Stop killing our state Republicans!!!!!!
VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS.
Kick out Republicans at the State and Federal level.
We will turn this state around.
February 10th, 2012 at 6:26 pm
DOH Secretary Farmer is an arrogant, abusive, loud mouth, SHORT SOB that thinks his ex military experience allows him to come in each morning at 7:50 and start yelling at staff at 8:00. Secretary Farmer was pushed out of Texas for his abusive behavior and when a bold and courageous DOH employee captures him on video and audio using 4 letter words, and his screaming and yelling at this staff, Farmer will be sent back to Texas. The economy in Tallahassee when the fairly new 4 DOH buildings close will suffer terribly. Thank you DOH Farmer!