W.Va. DHHR, Gov. staff meets on reforms

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The Division of Well being and Human Sources touches each life — younger and previous — in West Virginia, and work is nicely underway to separate that company in three by New 12 months’s Day — a Division of Well being Amenities, a Division of Human Companies and a Division of Well being.

Lawmakers imagine it should breathe new efficiencies and accountability into essential packages that serve your loved ones.

But, when the Legislative Oversight Fee on Well being and Human Sources Accountability requested for a transition plan final week, they acquired this reply from DHHR’s interim secretary, Jeffrey Coben.

“Sadly, I’m unable to do this right now, as a result of I’ve not but had the requisite conferences with the Governor’s Workplace to debate that plan in depth, and to essentially present their enter to assist craft the plan,” he advised lawmakers April 17. “Subsequent week, I will likely be assembly, there are a number of, hour-meetings scheduled with the Governor’s staff.”

So now, per week later, WSAZ NewsChannel 3′s Curtis Johnson went to the governor for an replace.

“Have these conferences taken place?” Johnson requested Wednesday. “In that case, what selections have been made? If not, why the delay? And, lastly, what are you able to inform residents concerning the transition of this vital company?”

“Nicely, to start with Curtis, I do know the assembly occurred, and it occurred right this moment. You already know, my chief of employees was there, and every part, they usually did the working plan right this moment,” Justice replied. “Dr. Coben can provide us extra, and extra, and extra updates on it. I do suppose we’re making some actual headway on DHHR, and we wish to proceed that.”

Justice, a Republican, advised Johnson his workplace can be clear with the transition plan. He expects Dr. Coben will participate in subsequent week’s briefing with extra data.

Del. Heather Tully, R-Nicholas, cited DHHR’s historical past of communication issues on the April 17 assembly.

Coben advised her and fellow lawmakers that he’s working to repair that situation. He pointed to 21 city corridor conferences with about 2,500 staff, most of these in-person, and a inner web site to reply regularly requested questions. He says its a course of he plans to proceed with staff and the general public at massive.

“We acknowledge that even the those who we serve might have questions on, ‘Nicely, do I’ve to name anyone in another way now, then I used to name earlier than,’” he advised Tully.

These communications plans will likely be taking form within the weeks to come back, Coben stated.

The brand new regulation takes impact in late Could. Nonetheless, the DHHR will proceed to function at one unit till the cut up happens on New 12 months’s Day.

Copyright 2023 WSAZ. All rights reserved.