The rural poor were either unable to see a physician or had to drive long distances to do so. The Office of Rural Health was established by Executive Order in 1974 to address this issue. In 1977, the legislature created the Division of Aging and added it to DHR so that more emphasis could be given to the needs of the growing elderly population. In 1978, the Division of Medical Assistance was created within the Department to administer the Medicaid program. Prior to DMA's creation, Medicaid had been administered by the Division of Social Services , with county departments of social services determining eligibility.
Eligibility continues to be determined by the county departments of social services.
In 1989, the legislature created the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and a Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. At that time the division was the central administrative office for the three schools for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and provided services to preschoolers and the adult population. In 1999 the schools were transferred to the Division of Education and Early Intervention. Legislation was enacted in 1997 to transfer most of the Division of Public Health back to the Department of Human Resources, and to change the name of the Department to the Department of Health and Human Services. From the beginning of subsidized child day care in the early 1970s, that program was located in the Division of Social Services.