"We have cut all the fat'

When state spending comes under review by Gov. Pat Quinn Laurie Schierer said she has worries the  Woodford County Health Department could face cuts.

Yet, Schierer, the director of the health department, said, she would still welcome such a review by the governor.

“I welcome it any time he wants to examine what we do,” Schierer said. “When he does he’ll find we are valuable.”

Targeted cuts
When Quinn made his budget address in February he targeted specific areas of government he wants to attack for savings. One area is health spending.

One particular comment the governor made makes Schierer aware that her agency could come under the governor’s budget paring effort.

“No area is above review,” Quinn said.

In the area of health care Quinn said all programs are being looked at in a new way — specifically looking for ways to save tax dollars while improving services.

Earlier this year, under Quinn’s direction, comprehensive Medicaid reform was passed. Medicaid provides health services to the indigent.

“But it will also improve health outcomes for Medicaid patients — decreasing 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,” Quinn said.

Fat is gone
Schierer said while she fears cuts, a fair assessment of the funding stream and spending pattern of the Woodford County Health Department would bear out one thing.

“We have cut all the fat,” Schierer said. “We are the smallest health department in the state.”

The Woodford County Health Department Board of Health voted June 17, 2010, to decline the contract with the Department of Human Services for Family Case Management, Teen Parent Services and Healthworks for the 2011 fiscal year that began July 1.

To cope with a shortfall of state funding amounting to $117,000 staff reductions of one full-time job and two part-time jobs were made and programs dropped.

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 was  similar to Family Case Management, but focused on children in foster care was cut.

Teen Parent Services was trimmed. This program was designed to help pregnant teens stay in school and plan for their future.

The length of the work week for retained employees was shortened to 38 hours.

The cuts were mandated because the state had fallen so far behind in promised payments.

Schierer said in July 2010, that for Family Case Management, the health department had only received one-twelfth of the contracted amount every month.

The contract began July 1, 2009, and the first and only payment was received in December.

The contract ended June 30, 2010, and  the health department expected the state to pay out the rest of the contract, which they will not be able to do until December of 2010.

The Woodford County Health Department discontinued its involvement with the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer program in May 2010 because the Peoria City/County Health Department was the lead agency and decided to discontinue its program.

Lean
Schierer said the state has caught up on its 2010 funding obligations to the health department.

But, she said, an all too familiar pattern is emerging.

Fiscal Year 2011 started July 1, 2010, and a number of programs the health department has going have yet to receive any state funding.

“We are very lean,” Schierer said.

“I am concerned about cuts. I cut valuable programs last year.”

Schierer said the health department is operating largely on fees collected and a county allotment of funding.

“We are doing OK,” Schierer said.

Because the health department is lean and has cut back on many services, Schierer said she would love to see the governor examine their funding.

“He should look at everything. He has limited resources and has to put them where they will do the most good,” Schierer said.

“I hope he does take a close look. He’ll see the gaps in services that are so glaring in communities. We will not come out on the bad end of that if he takes a close look. We’re all in this together. I understand the importance of prioritization. We’re a public entity. We should be examined and be transparent.”