Rick Scott has found a sneaky way to privatize public clinics and now many of
my friends at the health department could lose their jobs: dirty b********.
Health department overhaul bill passes House panel
By JAMES L. ROSICA
Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A bill that would shift public-health responsibilities from the state to the counties - possibly affecting 12,000 state Department of Health jobs - cleared a House panel Monday.
The House health and human services quality subcommittee approved the bill (HB 1263) by a vote of 7-4.
County health departments now report to the state and to county governments. Rep. Matt Hudson's bill would "decentralize" them and put them solely under the control of individual county commissions.
"I can tell you the counties I represent ask for more home rule," said the Naples Republican, who also chairs the health care appropriations subcommittee. "They want more control at the local level."
Counties would apply for block grants from the state to provide environmental health services, communicable disease control and primary health care. The amount of such grants would be awarded based on population.
What's not yet clear is what will happen to many of the 12,000 jobs in the state health department. Hudson suggested many of those workers likely will be transferred to county health positions.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/06/2628200/health-department-overhaul-bill.html#storylink=cpy