03.09.12 A Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals official gave assurances that funding and services for senior citizens will remain intact, despite tentative plans to move the Office of Elderly Affairs from the governor's office to DHH.

DHH Deputy Secretary Kathy Kliebert told attendees of a Lafayette forum that the OEA functions will remain the same, and there will be no layoffs as employees are transferred to DHH. The move is designed to consolidate personnel and services, not eliminate anything, she said.

"Right now what we have are known best practices and known leveraging opportunities," Kliebert said. "We're trying to think innovatively about how we use our limited resources."