Local Health Department Case

1. What risks are present with the Ohio policy that allows local health departments to establish their own bookkeeping systems?

Base on the information provided on the case study, Ohio seems to be classified as a decentralize state, meaning local health units are primarily led by employees of local governments and the local governments retain authority over most fiscal decisions. It is very risky when individual health departments have authority to set their own financial accounting systems. State will have a lot of difficulty to effectively monitor accounts effectively; it will be extremely difficult to keep track of account errors, especially fraudulent transactions.

2. Why might some regulated clients, such as home builders and restaurant

The local health department knows exactly what the employees need and what benefits will best suit them. For example, if most of the employees are an older generation than a better health insurance package would suit that particular group, or if majority employees are young than a more flexible health insurance would work. Most of the time state benefit packages will include benefits that local employees do not care for. Besides the state system has a lot cons, such longer waiting period if there was any preexisting conditions.

4. Based on considerations of centralization and decentralization, would you prefer to be the state health department director in Kentucky, Ohio, or Virginia? Why?

I would rather be a state health department director in Ohio for several reasons. First, Ohio uses a decentralized system that minimizes the risks of the excessive concentration of power by allowing others to make decisions without delays, and helps customize policies that can best assist the needs of the people. Having a decentralization organizational structure would benefit central government by allowing them to focus more on strategic decision-making, planning and