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Lawmakers still hashing out agency merger

HARRISBURG — A day after the state House of Representatives passed its budget for next year, the chamber hosted the leaders of four health-related state agencies for another joint hearing on Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal to merge the entities into one mega-department.

Committee members spent about two hours questioning the secretaries of the Departments of Health, Human Services, Aging, and Drug and Alcohol Programs regarding the proposed new agency, its efficiencies and projected savings associated with the consolidation.

Like the hearing in the Senate last week, many lawmakers expressed apprehension about possibly “diluting” the voice of the Departments of Aging and Drug and Alcohol Programs, creating a colossal department that is hard for consumers to navigate, reducing the dispensing fees for prescription drug programs that benefit the elderly, mixing Lottery Fund dollars with General Fund dollars and changing the backroom structure of community health centers, among

others.

“In this proposed merger, the Aging Department is about 2 percent of the proposed merger. My concern is that we made a commitment to seniors back in the ’70s … and my concern is we don’t lose our focus on our senior citizens by having Aging as part of this large department,” said Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-Northampton, the minority chairman of the Aging and Older Adult Services Committee.

Rep. Matt Baker, R-Bradford, majority chairman of the Health Committee, added: “I do hear that as a recurring theme among the members and the constituency groups, the loss of focus and mission in various programs.”

And though lawmakers had a slew of concerns, it appears many are willing to pursue the idea for the time being.

The chamber voted 114-84 to send a budget bill to the Senate on Tuesday, which means the consolidation will likely occur, although those leaders cautioned there are still plenty of details to be worked out regarding the merger.

Following the meeting, Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks, one of the Legislature’s most vocal opponents of the merger, held a rally with hundreds of constituents to oppose the consolidation of DDAP into the agency.

It included former DDAP Sec. Gary Tennis, who previously told reporters he was asked by Wolf to step down from the agency for opposing the consolidation.

Both DiGirolamo and Tennis believe the department’s mission to address the opioid crisis will be lost in the new department.

Lawmakers in both the Senate and House hearings made the point to ask all of the secretaries whether they are supporting the merger out of fear of reprisal.

All answered no.

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