D.C. Department of Human Resources as State Health Planning and Development Agency

The Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) conditionally designated the Department of Human Resources (DHR) as a State Health Planning and Development Agency (SHPDA) on March 1, 1977. This report covers DHR health planning efforts from April 1975 to January 1979. The DHR failure to give adequate priority to health planning and to recruiting a SHPDA Executive Director and staff were the principal causes for the delays in developing a District health plan and in meeting requirements. Delays in meeting requirements caused DHR to lose $175,000 of Federal health planning funds. DHR has a target date of March 1980 to have an approved State Health Plan and to receive full SHPDA designation by HEW. If DHR accomplishes these goals, it would continue to receive about $7 million in Federal funds for certain health programs. Failure to meet designation requirements could result in HEW relocating the SHPDA in another agency of the District Government, or in an independent commission.