Department of State Health Services: Fiscal Size-Up

Overview DSHS works to improve the health, safety and well-being of Texans through good stewardship of public resources and a focus on core public health functions. Due to the agency’s shift under Transformation per Senate Bill 200 (84 R) to focus solely on public health functions and to move many programs and functions to other agencies, all funds spending in 2018-19 is considerably smaller (73% less) than that expended and budgeted in 2016-17. Agency Programs Public Health Services include efforts to reduce tobacco use, coordinate border area public health efforts, provide health data and statistics, immunize Texans, provide lab services, prevent HIV/STDs and other communicable diseases, and coordinate emergency medical services (EMS), trauma care and public health preparedness and coordination. Other services offered in this area are health registries, vital statistics, infectious disease surveillance and prevention, and health promotion. Public Health Services c