Idaho health director nominee Alex Adams outlines statutory cuts, integrity office and child-welfare focus at confirmation hearing

Alex Adams, the governor’s nominee to lead the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee that since taking the helm in June he has focused the agency on fewer priorities, tighter financial controls and a concentrated effort to improve outcomes for children in foster care. The committee did not vote on the appointment; members said a vote is expected at a subsequent meeting.

Adams said he has been trimming the department’s obligations and internal regulations and has reorganized leadership to place finance and program integrity closer to the director’s office. “Less is more—results, not intentions,” he told senators, saying his leadership team is pursuing “quality over quantity” and is “laser focused on child welfare.”

The director told the committee the department employs about 3,000 people, occupies 74 buildings in 37 locations and manages a broad portfolio that includes hospitals, Medicaid, food assistance and child-welfare services. He said he has removed about 2,300 pages of internal regulations and plans legislation to eliminate roughly 150 statutory sections he described as “zombie” programs. He also said the department will cut about 200 pages of regulations this year.

Adams described administrative changes intended to reduce the risk of improper spending and improve oversight. He said he implemented a new internal approval workflow—“1…