The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society Med Journal July 2019 Final 2 | Page 12

by CASEY L. PENN Reorganization of Boards in Arkansas Presenter: Nate Smith, MD, MPH Director & State Health Officer Arkansas Department of Health N athanial Smith, MD, MPH, the many boards, commissions, and agencies into a structure where their purpose, their mission, is aligned acts as director and state and they have real access to the governor and can be health officer for the Ar- [better] managed.” kansas Department of Health. In his Background address to AMS physicians at the annual meeting, Dr. Nate Smith, MD, MPH Smith gave the mem- bers in attendance an overview of coming re- organization of boards in the state. “The reor- ganization of boards,” he explained, “is part of a larger plan by the governor to reorganize state government. The idea is to bring Act 1202 of 2015 created a committee to re- view and make recommendations for realigning state government in a similar framework as a federal cabinet. The previous structure had 42 cabinet level positions and over 200 boards and commissions. The Transformation and Efficiencies Act (2019) de- creases the number of cabinet level positions to 15. Under the new plan, many boards and commis- sions that were formerly separate will be moved un- der the umbrella of the Arkansas Health Department. Some will move out of the ADH into newly created agencies. All that come under the ADH will align with the ADH mission, which is “to protect and improve the health and well-being of all Arkansans.” “There are legal and administrative aspects that will be worked out as the process moves along,” said Smith, alluding to the reality that many things were undecided at the time of his presentation. “However, I do know that the boards and commissions that move under the ADH umbrella will retain their ability to make autonomous decisions, retain their independent fund- ing streams, continue to promulgate their own rules and regulations, and their members will continue to be appointed as before.” Implementation of the new system is planned for July 1, 2019. For more information, contact Nate Smith at ADH. If You, Or A Patient, Need Legal Assistance Call Us For a Free Consultation • Personal Injury • Tractor Trailer Crashes • Social Security • Bankruptcy • Nursing Home Negligence • Family Law • Contract Disputes T HE B RAD H ENDRICKS L AW F IRM 800-603-5100 Little Rock • Conway • Fayetteville • Texarkana • Jonesboro • Fort Smith 12 • THE JOURNAL OF THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL SOCIETY VOLUME 116