It’s agency budget request season at the state capitol, and the Oklahoma State Department of Health is bucking the usual trend.
Commissioner of Health Gary Cox’s budget request to lawmakers for next fiscal year is a 1% decrease from this year’s total budget of $432.3 million. Cox said health department leaders are going to find around $9 million in savings, however, and redistribute that funding to county health departments.
"Because where we’re going to impact health in Oklahoma is at the community level. It’s not going to happen at Northeast 10th and Stonewall in an administrative office," Cox said.
Lawmakers in the budget hearing were skeptical about Cox's requested budget decrease.
"How does that square with the horrible health outcomes in our state, for the department of health to come and say, 'Hey, we’ve got more money than we need,'?" said Sen. Greg McCortney.
"Our philosophy is go in and find your efficiencies first … that creates credibility. And then redistribute the money in those efficiencies to front-line services in the counties," Cox said.
"I think I’m hearing that we’re going to have the same outcomes, but we’re going to cost you less money," said Sen. Dave Rader.
"No, sir. The metrics here show improvement in outcomes. And so, our goal is to have much better outcomes to get to that top-10 state," Cox said.
Cox was pointing to improvements in indicators like obesity rates, tobacco use and immunization rates.
Cox began serving as state health commissioner in September.
