Health Policy
SB 162 by Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) would split the Department of Health Services into two agencies and create the Department of Public Health. The public health department would focus on disease prevention, public safety and licensing, while DHS would maintain oversight of public health insurance programs, including Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program (Bill text, 8/24). Gov. Schwarzenegger is considering the measure.
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