Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Committee Assembly week kicks off with...

...a couple of committee hearings! Who woulda thunk it?

Right now, the House Committee on Health & Human Services is taking a close look at the impact of the current budget on health and human services programs in Washington. Agencies are having to manage billion of dollars in recent cuts.

The meeting agenda includes a review of the following:

  • The Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS)
  • Administration/PaymentsMedical Assistance (DSHS)
  • Health Care Authority
  • Department of Health Economic Services Administration
  • Aging and Disability Services Administration (Developmental Disabilities and Long-Term Care)
Then, today at 1:30, two world-renowned experts on quality management will be in Olympia today to headline the first meeting of a new House committee that aims to improve the performance and oversight of Washington state government.

Deborah Hopen and Dr. David Spong will share their expertise on creating high-quality, high-performance systems at today’s 1:30 to 4:30 PM opening meeting of the House of Representatives' new Audit, Review and Oversight Committee.

Hopen is the editor of American Society for Quality's Journal for Quality and
Participation. She has more than 30 years of experience in the field, including service as a senior executive with both Fortune and Inc. 500 companies, plus service as a president and chairman of the American Society for Quality, and as president of the Washington State Quality Award Program and the International Standards Initiative.

Dr. David Spong, who recently retired as president of Aerospace Support for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, is President-Elect of the American Society of Quality. He's also a past chair and current Board member of the Baldrige Foundation. Under Spong's leadership, the Being Division earned the 2003 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for service.

Committee Chair Mark Miloscia is also an expert on effective auditing practices and managing for quality. Earlier this year, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program selected Miloscia for the 2009 volunteer Board of Examiners.

Can't make these meetings live? Don't worry, you can catch them live on TVW.

Apture