The Department of Health’s current-year savings target is $61.9 million, reflecting the Governor’s order for a 10.35 percent reduction in projected agency spending. The Department is currently expected to achieve its entire $61.9 million spending reduction target.
Major Savings Initiatives
The Department is already in the process of implementing the following actions to achieve its savings target by:
Managing personal service vacancy levels, controlling the use of temporary service and overtime and limiting hiring to positions critical to the health and safety of patients and staff. As a result of these steps, the Department’s year end position fill level is expected to be 5,807, a reduction of 233 (or almost 4 percent) from its initial target of 6,040.
Limiting spending on all non-personal services to the Department’s most critical needs. The Department will control the use of contracts for temporary staff, limit travel to the minimum level necessary to carry out the statutory, regulatory and administrative mission of the agency and establish spending controls on supplies and equipment. Spending for consultant contracts, planned space modifications, advertising and any other non-essential purposes will be curtailed. In addition, spending on the Stem Cell Program will be reduced by $9 million.