DHSS like other departments is moving ahead and completing our budget work, and preparing to transmit our budget proposals to the Office of Management & Budget. As you know, Governor Murkowski will introduce the budget on Thursday, March 6. ---
Reorganization announcements next week
At the same time, we are completing important parts of the plan to reorganize
DHSS and restructure our Medicaid financing, to maximize federal funding for
our services, to integrate the health and social services that we provide to
Alaskans in ways that make sense, and in ways that serve our customers better
and more efficiently.
On Monday afternoon we will be briefing directors and key managers
about the reorganization from the top level, as well as clarifying how the planned
budget and program changes will affect each division. We are meeting with DHSS
staff before any public announcement because I think it's important for you
to know first. Tuesday morning we will hold a news conference with the Office
of the Governor to unveil the reorganization plans to the Alaskan public.
Pearson named Director of Alcohol
& Drug Abuse
I am also pleased to announce that Karen Pearson has been named our new Director
of the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, effective April 1. Please join me
in congratulating Karen, and in working with her and our other new Directors
as we implement our plans for the new DHSS administration.
Finally, I want to reiterate my commitment to keeping you informed
about this and other DHSS issues. Change is always difficult and challenging,
but I am confident that we can work together to make DHSS stronger, and better
able to meet the needs of the people we serve, and the employees who work every
day to serve Alaskans.
Sincerely,
Joel Gilbertson, Commissioner