Associated Press Published

State DHHR Plans Changes to Address Issues

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Changes are in the works at the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources in response to an audit that found the agency is inefficient.
 
     DHHR Secretary Karen Bowling plans to break the agency into three divisions covering human services, health services, and insurance and strategic planning. Each division would oversee several bureaus within the agency. Deputy secretaries would be appointed to lead the divisions.
 
     The Charleston Daily Mail reports that Bowling outlined the plan Monday during a legislative interim committee meeting.
 
     Bowling told lawmakers that the plan would give bureau heads more time to deal with their offices’ day-to-day workings.
 
     The audit by consulting firm Public Works found that the DHHR wastes millions of dollars and has a high turnover rate.