Optum contract not expanded, Health Department no longer in need of Rhoads Pool for covid testing...
Katie Forte - Reporter
LISTEN TO THE MEETING IN FULL HERE:
Harrison County Health Department director Carrie Herthel reported that the even though the Harrison County Parks board signed the MOU extension, the Optum contract did not get expanded, so the MOU extension is not needed and
the Health Department will no longer need the Rhoads Pool site.
They are working to find another testing situation for the most vulnerable population in Harrison County. It was mentioned that staffing an off-site location for a single digit number of tests each day was not sustainable. Commissioners and members of the Board of Health came up with several options to address the concern to continue to make available free covid testing for those that needed it.
We plan to follow up with the Parks Board regarding the status of the Rhoads pool at their next meeting on June 23rd. If you want to understand this development in context, we recommend listening to this episode of the podcast.
The Commissioners were invited to be briefed and to have discussion regarding the Board of Health’s concerns about Senate Enrolled Act #5 (click here to read more about it).
Herthel and Dr. Andrew Morton, the Harrison County Health Officer, presented concerns to the Commissioners about Senate Enrolled Act #5:
Morton said that “It’s a horrible order, It’s gonna kill people, but on the local level, maybe there’s something we can do to have some sort of intermediary… give us 72 hours until we can get this sorted out type of thing… I don’t know… I’m just spitballing…”
He gave an example: If a tornado goes through Elizabeth, and the water is no longer safe to drink, the way the law is now, the Health Department can’t do anything about it until the Commissioners meet and make a decision. Commissioners have to announce meetings ahead of time, so it could be 48 hours before they could even meet. Additionally, if business owners don’t like the orders by the Health Department, they can protest and not have to follow the orders.
It was noted that Governor Holcomb vetoed the bill, but the veto was overridden by the General Assembly.
The new order ties the hands of the Health Department in the event of an emergency and politicizes the position of the Health Officer as that position will no longer be chosen by the Board of Health, but by the Commissioners.
Commissioners and Board of Health were in agreement that a “work through” was needed. Jim Heitkemper added, “You folks, in your trade, are more trained to deal with this emergency situations than I am… I’m trained to know if the cows are out in the road, I’ve gotta get my boots on and go get ‘em.”
An update on vaccinations and testing was given and an additional covid death this past week was noted.