Split of the state’s health department is now official

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy’s Executive Order 121, to divide the State’s largest department in two, has become law March 21 and becomes effective July 1.

Adam Crum, who now heads the Department of Health and Social Services will apply for one of the two new commissioner jobs.

The reorganization will create two smaller departments that can be focused on a more proactive approach to serving Alaskans, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said.

“Reorganization will create an environment for innovation and greater responsiveness,” Dunleavy said. “The two departments will be able to manage their programs more efficiently and more responsibly to the constituents they serve. And they’ll be able to work on long-term strategic goals such as focused stakeholder engagement, federal partner negotiations, and Alaska-specific solutions for health care.”

The budget of the DH&SS is bigger than 12 other state departments, the Legislature, court system and Governor’s office combined. A small executive team of five people manage 3,200 employees.

In a briefing earlier this year Crum said the department had become large and complex, to the point that that top officials were so busy with administrative chores that they didn’t have time to plan new initiatives for better service or efficiency.

Dunleavy’s Executive Order divides DH&SS into two departments that are aligned by functionality:

• A Department of Health aligns divisions within the former DH&SS that focus on payments, processes and programs

• A new Department of Family and Community Services will be responsible for divisions in the former department that provide 24-hour direct care to Alaskans in a facility or in the community

“The reorganization was designed to not disrupt services to beneficiaries or payments to medical providers,” Crum said. “These two departments allow for proper management and support to work on improving critical services delivered to and for Alaskans.”