1/2 of PA. Health Centers Closing; Will Provide Public Health Services Instead at County Fairs [View all]

[JPZenger]

Last edited Fri Apr 5, 2013, 07:41 PM - Edit history (1)

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/corbett-would-close-county-health-centers-1.1442620

http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/401598/SEIU-files-suit-against-Corbett-over-health-center-closings

One Term Tommy is moving forward on shutting down 26 of the State's Community Health Centers that are spread across the state. This is about half of the existing health centers.

The first article quotes Corbett Administration officials as saying that it is cheaper to provide public health services by setting up a stand at the annual State Farm Show and the annual County Fairs. "Oh, is there an Avian Flu epidemic threatening Wilkes-Barre? Well, we will have a stand at the Luzerne County Fair next August, can you wait until then?"
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Here's a great op ed on the issue by the former head of the PA. Dept. of Aging:

http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/04/gov_corbett_plan_to_close_clinics_would_endanger_health_cost_jobs_as_i_see_it.html

Excerpts:

"There are, however, warning signs of the vulnerability of our current public health system even before the Administration’s drastic cuts:

- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranks only six other states below Pennsylvania for public health preparedness – we are seriously under- prepared to respond to disease outbreaks, bioterrorism and weather disasters.
- The state’s infectious disease rate increased nearly 30 percent in 2011 (the last year for which data exist).
- The share of the state population without health insurance increased 29 percent in the last decade. This share is now growing because the Governor eliminated low-cost health care for adults (adultBasic) and refuses to accept federal dollars allocated to expand Medicaid coverage in Pennsylvania – leaving people more dependent on community health centers."

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It might not be so bad, if PA was not already 43rd among the states in public health spending by the state government before these cuts were made. Now, maybe Mississippi will beat us.

It might not be so bad if PA. had a strong system of county health depts., but only 6 of the 67 counties have a county health department.