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Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget address, delivered earlier this year, had a theme of cost-cutting and reform.
Quinn said no aspect of state spending is above review. He said no area should be considered sacred. Some areas, he added, are long overdue for review.
Medicaid — which provides medical care to the poor — is one such area. Quinn has already targeted this area of tremendous cost.
Quinn said the reform will “decrease ineffective reliance on emergency rooms by providing patients with a medical home, and focusing on preventive care to keep people from getting sick in the first place.”
That is a huge step in the right direction.
What Quinn did not address is how his cost-cutting and reform efforts will impact county health departments that provide essential services to both the indigent and well-off across Illinois.
Health departments across the state have been in financial distress because the state has not lived up to earlier financial commitments it made.
The Woodford County Health Department is a prime example.
Last year the Woodford County Health Department drastically cut services and staff because the state owed the agency more than $100,000. The 2010 backlog of funds has been caught up. But, the state is now behind for this year.
Family Case Management was cut — which deals with identifying medical needs of women and WIC — Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — appointments.
The Healthworks Program, which focuses on children in foster care, was cut.
Teen Parent Services — which helps pregnant teens stay in school and plan for their future — was cut back.
Director of Nursing Lynda McKeown said, last year, the health department will see the same number of clients, but provide fewer services and instead provide referrals.
These are important services. If these needs are being adequately addressed by others through referrals there is no harm, no foul.
The health department does not need to provide duplicative service.
However, if these needs are not being addressed then an issue exists that needs to be examined, not ignored as has been the state’s response in the past.
Quinn has the right idea.
Quinn needs to make sure his reform efforts address not just monetary costs, but human costs, as well.
Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget address, delivered earlier this year, had a theme of cost-cutting and reform.
Quinn said no aspect of state spending is above review. He said no area should be considered sacred. Some areas, he added, are long overdue for review.
Medicaid — which provides medical care to the poor — is one such area. Quinn has already targeted this area of tremendous cost.
Quinn said the reform will “decrease ineffective reliance on emergency rooms by providing patients with a medical home, and focusing on preventive care to keep people from getting sick in the first place.”
That is a huge step in the right direction.
What Quinn did not address is how his cost-cutting and reform efforts will impact county health departments that provide essential services to both the indigent and well-off across Illinois.
Health departments across the state have been in financial distress because the state has not lived up to earlier financial commitments it made.
The Woodford County Health Department is a prime example.
Last year the Woodford County Health Department drastically cut services and staff because the state owed the agency more than $100,000. The 2010 backlog of funds has been caught up. But, the state is now behind for this year.
Family Case Management was cut — which deals with identifying medical needs of women and WIC — Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — appointments.
The Healthworks Program, which focuses on children in foster care, was cut.
Teen Parent Services — which helps pregnant teens stay in school and plan for their future — was cut back.
Director of Nursing Lynda McKeown said, last year, the health department will see the same number of clients, but provide fewer services and instead provide referrals.
These are important services. If these needs are being adequately addressed by others through referrals there is no harm, no foul.
The health department does not need to provide duplicative service.
However, if these needs are not being addressed then an issue exists that needs to be examined, not ignored as has been the state’s response in the past.
Quinn has the right idea.
Quinn needs to make sure his reform efforts address not just monetary costs, but human costs, as well.
