Thursday, May 30, 2013
 
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Local health dept. to make cuts in service due to budget constraints

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[May 30, 2013]  The Logan County Department of Public Health has recently cut $30,000 per month from its fiscal 2013 budget.

"These cuts are necessary: to combat raising cost associated with employee retirement and health insurance, Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement delays and cuts, cuts to state and federal grants, and delays in state and federal grant reimbursements," said Mark Hilliard, administrator. "Our local tax levy currently only covers 11 percent of our budget, with 47 percent coming from state and federal grants."

The cuts are primarily being accomplished through a reduction in day-to-day operational expenses and employee attrition.

"We have had five employees either resign or retire over the last couple of months, and we don't plan on filling those positions in the foreseeable future," Hilliard said. Currently only one employee is scheduled to be laid off.

"We're thankful that we're going to be able to continue to offer all of our major programs and services, with only minimal changes," Hilliard said.

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Effective June 3, the following changes will be implemented:

  • There will be no public health nurse on the HOPE Mobile.

  • Public health clinic services will not be available on Fridays. Health screenings and immunizations will still be available on a walk-in basis Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

  • The health department will no longer provide diabetic foot-care as part of the public health clinic.

The health department regrets any inconvenience for the citizens of Logan County with these changes, and the department plans to be flexible in implementing the changes over the next month.

[Text from file received from the Logan County Department of Public Health]

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