A state representative has again proposed dissolving the Department of Health and Senior Services into the Departments of Social Services; Mental Health, and a new Department of MO Healthnet.
Representative Sue Allen (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)
Representative Sue Allen (R-Town and Country) says there have been many changes since the current department structure was established.
“The systems that we have now don’t work because people are living longer,” said Allen. “We have [a department that is] too big – they’ve grown, inefficiencies … in my opinion I don’t see a lot of accountability for inefficiencies.”
Representative Tracy McCreery (D-St. Louis) thinks Missourians won’t be better served by the reshuffling. She thinks the problem is that Missouri has cut too many positions that deal with people needing services.
“State workers have so many clients and have so many things in their portfolio that there’s not even a way to be hopeful that you can accomplish your work,” said McCreery. “I think that’s where [the legislature has] failed as managers of the money and of the Department.”
Allen is in her final year in the legislature and hopes someone will continue considering her idea after she is termed out.