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SALT LAKE CITY — Two of Utah’s largest social service agencies have officially combined to create the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.
According to the Utah State Legislature website, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) officially became the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) earlier this month.
During the 2021 General Session, the state Legislature passed HB 365, State Agency Realignment directing Utah’s two primary social service agencies to consolidate into one.
The Legislature proposed the merger as they believed both departments already worked closely together, but since they were separate agencies, there were issues with customer service and redundant paperwork.
New organizational structure for the Department of Health & Human Services. (Utah DHHS Plan)
The website highlighted some of the organizational changes for the new department, like the collocation of Family Health and other community programs with Child & Family Services.
Most of UDOH and DHS services are still under the new department besides the Medicaid eligibility policy, Medicaid Eligibility and Quality Control (MEQC), and eligibility adjudications. Those services are now under the Department of Workforce Services.
According to the state website, the Utah DHHS is the largest agency in Utah, with a total budget of $1.322 billion and a total of 6,000 employees.
You can visit the state’s website to learn more about the changes.
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