Nominee Lays Out Plans for State Public Health Agency

Speaking on behalf of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) in his weekly radio address, Mark Horton said the California Department of Public Health would work to reduce health care costs and improve care, as well as boost the state's emergency preparedness (Office of the Governor release, 4/7).

The governor last year signed legislation (SB 162) to create the Department of Public Health and reorganize the Department of Health Services. DHS will continue to oversee Medi-Cal and other state insurance programs.

The governor last week named Horton to direct the department (California Healthline, 4/3).

Horton said the department would include programs intended to curb the incidence of diabetes, obesity and tobacco usage as part of a strategy to bring down rates of heart disease, stroke and cancer (Office of the Governor release, 4/7).

Audio of the address and a Spanish translation are available on the governor's Web site.