Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2006
Contact: Jesscica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Applauds Cost-Saving Measures at DHSS
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today commended the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) for efforts to reduce operating costs by more than half a million dollars over the past few months.
“The Department of Health and Senior Services has found innovative ways to accomplish its day-to-day business while improving efficiency and saving Missouri taxpayers money,” Blunt said. “This focus on responsible stewardship of tax dollars has resulted in similar savings throughout our administration and will continue to be one of our top ongoing goals.”
By requiring all DHSS employees and contractors to be paid electronically through direct deposit rather than a paper check, the department is saving taxpayers more than $235,000. The department is also saving more than $85,000 in administrative costs by eliminating phone lines and pagers, reducing printing and postage, and using surplus furniture.
By making changes in contracts such as requiring contractors to perform work on site or consolidating purchases, the department has achieved cost savings of more than $160,000. Also, the department recently implemented a centralized contract monitoring review process that is estimated to result in $115,000 in savings annually.
“Achieving additional administrative savings was imperative to ensure the continued delivery of high quality services to Missourians,” Director Julie Eckstein said. “By asking all employees and managers to be involved in looking for ways to save, we have been able to identify creative approaches for doing our job better and at a lower cost.”
For more information contact Nanci Gonder at the Department of Health and Senior Services at (573) 751-6062.
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