1 week Ago By Minka Atkinson [email protected]
The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners voted this week to approve the first stage of a three-year consolidated contract with the Washington State Department of Health, and to extend the county health officer's contract. The contract, which will begin Jan. 1, covers a number of state programs including foundational public health funding , emergency preparedness and maternal and child health.
Foundational public health services are government-mandated programs and services that should be available to all residents statewide, like access to medical and oral care. The contract can also include reimbursements for some public health efforts, such as one the county received recently for treating a hepatitis B case, Deputy Health and Human Services Director Gena James said. The initial contract outlines the general terms of the agreement and does not include any dollar amounts.
The county will receive amendments with information about specific funding at a later date, which the board can approve or refuse on an individual basis. Unlike some other programs, this funding stays with the county instead of passing through to community partners, James said. County Commissioner Arne Mortensen said he prefers that to passthrough funds because it's more difficult for the county to ensure all money is being used correctly when it has to deal with a third party.
"That’s always made me feel uncomfortable because it’s clear you can only do an inadequate job of auditing," he said. At the same Tuesday meeting, commissioners also voted to renew County Health Officer Steve Krager's contract through Dec. 31, 2025.
The contract was previously set to expire at the end of 2024. Krager was appointed to the position as an independent contractor after the board voted not to renew Cowlitz County's contract with Clark County, through which he was employed as deputy health officer. "I appreciate how he handled the transition," Mortensen said.
"There was no negative fallout; in fact, there was quite the opposite." Minka Atkinson is a news reporter for The Daily News covering education, health and social services in Cowlitz County. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
.
