6FEF6F20D6CF0E018725836200587F12 Hearing Summary

Director McGowan came to the table to discuss a department overview, performance plan, performance management system, customer service improvements, regulatory agenda, budget request, legislative agenda, and the suicide prevention commission.  Attachments A,B,C,and D were distributed to the committee. 

Attachment A

Attachment B

Attachment C

Director McGowan stated that CDPHE's goals are to implement plans supporting health and environmental priorities, to increase CDPHE's efficiency, effectiveness, and elegance, to improve employee engagement, to promote health equity and environmental justice, and to prepare and respond to all emerging issues.

Director McGowan discussed goal 1, to implement plans supporting health and environmental priorities.  She discussed programs with substance use disorder, and air quality initiatives.

Director McGowan discussed goal 2, to improve CDPHE's efficiency, effectiveness, and elegance.  Director McGowan discussed implementing quality improvement projects, modernizing data collection, implement quality improvement projects, and employee surveys.

Goal number 3 is improving employee engagement.  CDPHE is doing this by supporting career growth, collecting more meaningful employee engagement data, recognize employees who exemplify CDPHE's mission and values, and engage employees through ongoing planning, promoting, and implementation of CDPHE Worksite Wellness.

Director McGowan discussed goal number 3, to improve employee engagement.  CDPHE is doing this by supporting career growth, collecting more meaningful employee engagement data, recognizing employees who exemplify CDPHE's mission and values, and engaging employees through ongoing planning, promoting, and implementation of CDPHE Worksite Wellness.

Director McGowan responded to committee questions concerning CDPHE's impact in rural Colorado, specifically in working with local governments on rural issues.  She discussed water quility as an example of local collaboration.  Patrick Pfaltzgraff, CDPHE, Director of Water Quality Control Division, responded to questions.  

Director McGowan continued to respond to committee questions concerning CDPHE's budget, goal priorities, equity in program delivery, and urban, rural, and mountain representation on the boards and commissions.

Director McGowan continued with the presentation and discussed goal 4, to promote health equity and environmental justice. This will be done by ensuring policies, practices, and programs are not inadvertently promoting inequities with customers, partners, or beneficiaries.

Director McGowan discussed goal 5, to prepare for and respond to all emerging issues.  CDPHE will achieve this by assuring sustainability of foundational elements, including personnel and infrastructure, and to detect, prepare, and respond to emerging issues.  Director McGowan discussed CDPHE's customer service policies and goals.  She used the Medical Marijuana Registry as an example of how CDPHE has improved customer service.

Director McGowan responded to committee questions concerning customer service, privacy with the Medical Marijuana Registry, and reducing waiver regulations for rural Colorado.  Garry Kaufman, CDPHE, Director of Air Pollution Control Division, came to the table to discuss balancing state and county oversight.  Director McGowan continued to respond to questions.

Director McGowan discussed CDPHE's 2019-2020 budget requests and legislative agenda items.  CDPHE is requesting funding or the following: family planning services; a statewide survey to support local communities; laboratory spending authority; local public health electronic medical records; tableau for data transparency; equity training; tribal liaison; assisted living residence program spending authority; one percent provider rate increase; restoration of the pesticides general fund allocation; and maintenance of the state trauma registry system. CDPHE's legislative priorities are to update the definition of tobacco products to include nicotine products, require retail licensure of tobacco and nicotine retailers, update the Solid Waste Act to ensure health and safety protections are equitable at solid waste sites across the state, and to clean up obsolete statues.

Director McGowan responded to committee questions concerning the budget requests and legislative priorities.  Mr. Pfaltzgraff returned to the table to respond to questions concerning water quality.  Chris Wells, CDPHE, Director of the Center for Health and Environmental Data, came to the table to respond to questions concerning the budget requests.

Jarrod Hindman, Office of Suicide Prevention, came to the table to discuss the Suicide Prevention Commission.  He highlighted Zero Suicide and empowering primary care practices in addressing suicide risk through patient care.  Mr. Hindman responded to committee questions concerning mental health and suicide prevention.

Jarrod Hindman, Office of Suicide Prevention, came to the table to discuss the Suicide Prevention Commission.  He highlighted the Zero Suicide program and discussed efforts to empower primary care practices in addressing suicide risk through patient care.  Mr. Hindman responded to committee questions concerning mental health and suicide prevention.