Sept. 28, 2006
Sims keeps doors open to Public Health Clinics in 2007
North county residents will continue to have the care of Public Health Clinics in the Northshore and North Seattle areas for at least six months next year. King County Executive Ron Sims is rejecting a recommendation to close two clinics and a dental office and instead is budgeting $2.3 million dollars in 2007 to keep clinic doors open through June.
Sims called the public health system increasingly fragile as federal and state governments are shifting more of the costs to local governments as more people need the services. He is asking the County Council and those who care about public health funding to join him in appealing to the legislature to help find a solution.
"We have demonstrated our commitment to public health by filling the funding gap year after year," said Executive Sims. "Since Initiative 695 cut stable state funding for public health, the struggle to find the money is harder every year.
"The ultimate solution is stable funding statewide for these critically needed local clinics," Sims said. "King County will need another $2.4 million to keep the clinics open the full year."
"The fate of these two clinics, both located in my district, is a test of our leadership to ensure that all King County residents have access to health care," said King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson. "While this temporary funding will come as a deserved relief for patients and the hard-working staff at these clinics, I am committed to pursuing this issue until we can reach a long-term solution to public health financing.
"I want to thank the Executive for working with me to identify this critical funding now, rather than waiting until next month when he announces his budget and the Council reviews it," Ferguson said.
"King County is examining our health department to prioritize scarce public health resources and optimize the health of King County residents," said King County Councilmember Julia Patterson. "We must not prematurely fill gaps in clinic funding without determining if providing clinical care is a priority for our public health department."
"I appreciate the support and commitment of County Councilmembers Julia Patterson and Bob Ferguson in working on these very challenging public health funding issues," Sims said.
Representatives of Public Health employees presented the Executive with petitions signed by public health employees and 400 letters from citizens imploring him to keep the clinics open. The Executive thanked them for their concern and dedication to public health and asked them to join him in asking the legislature for a solution to the public health funding crisis.
King County's Current Expense Fund (CX) contribution for public health has grown from $15.3 million in 2003 to $24.5 million in 2006. The Executive is proposing $27.5 million from CX in 2007.
Public Health Clinics are an integral part of the safety net for the uninsured. System wide, King County's ten Public Health clinics had 400,000 visits last year including 75,000 visits to the three facilities in North Seattle and Northshore. Nationally, Washington state ranks 44th for funding of public health (including federal state and local funding sources). As a result, our safety net system is struggling to deliver accessible, high quality primary and specialty care for the county's most vulnerable residents.
Since Initiative 695 passed limiting the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax, state funding for public health has been flat while the number of uninsured people increased in King County to 15.5%, the highest number since the county began tracking in 1993. The Legislature has provided some funding every year, however, the amounts have not kept up with costs.
Earlier this year, the Legislature appointed a Joint Select Committee on Public Health that has worked through the summer. In two weeks, the committee will make recommendations on potential sources of stable, dedicated funding.
The county received $11 million in state funds the last year of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax. Since then appropriations have varied from $8.3 to 9.5 million in 2003 to 2005. The State Medicaid match was $10.4 million in 2000, $12.3 million in 2004 and dropped to $11 million in '05, the last year available.