Home Care program cut from county

In a cost-saving move, the Jasper County Board of Health approved discontinuing the Home Care program, subtracting $400,000 from the health department’s budget going forward. The cut was made after the Jasper County Board of Supervisors requested at an earlier meeting each county department take a hard look at their budgets for areas to reduce spending.

“At the last board of health meeting, we were charged with taking a hard look at our budget for the entire health department, the supervisors had charged us with really putting programs under a microscope and understanding what they mean, what they do for our community,” board chair Margot Voshell said. “Of course, our first priority is to serve our community through public health and the second one is to respond to the wants of the supervisors and their directives for us.”

Along with regional community health consultant with the Iowa Department of Public Health Heather Bombei, the board reviewed each of the department’s programs to see where funds were being spent and if reductions could be made. The board found there wasn’t a way to cut any dollars from the Environmental Services portion. It then moved on to the Home Care program.

“The Home Care aid program, the county allocates about $450,000 to $500,000 per year for that program. The cost is about $81 per hour for service,” Voshell said. “With that being said, and taking a hard look at this program, it is the recommendation to allocate from the current funds that the county is providing to the home care program allocate $50,000 to our general assistance fund to help fund homemakers services through an application process.”

The general assistance fund, which is already in place in the county, would have a contact person to connect citizens with resources for essential needs. Currently, it helps citizens with medications, utility assistance and needs of that nature, making it a natural space to take the new responsibilities.

Board member and physician representative Andrew Cope asked if the county currently has providers who can fill the space the county is vacating for home care.

“Is this going to be other federal agencies that are going to come in take over, obviously these people are still in need?” Cope said.

Voshell said there are several agencies that provide services, whether it is through private pay, waiver or Medicare/Medicaid in the county.

“The information we received from Heather from IDPH, most counties in Iowa have either eliminated or gone to this general assistance fund type program. The general assistance fund would act as a referral source for people who call,” Voshell said. “Just like the person who manages the general assistance fund for the other services, they would bridge that gap between those who needed it and the referral sources to make sure they are getting matched.”

Another concern voiced by board member Donna Akins had to do with following up with citizens who reach out to the general assistance fund. Akins asked if once a person calls in, do they then have a “case manager” to advocate for them during and after the process of finding assistance or if once a referral service is found, the county done.

“There are a couple of ways to look at it. There are people who already have a case manager through the waiver program, so they would already have a particular person or persons they contact. That person would have over site,” Voshell said. “People who are privately paid, they would contact the referral source and then we would rely on the general assistance person to make sure that it was followed up.”

Even with the Home Care program no longer being a part of the health department, Voshell said the board will closely monitor the general assistance fund to see make sure it is being adequately funded. Should additional needs arise, the board will look to address them within the year.

“If we find out, after six months or nine months that ($50,000) isn’t enough, we would want to go back to the supervisors and have a conversation with them about maybe for funds,” Voshell said.

JCHD Administrator Becky Pryor said the department will need a lot of guidance, especially with clients and employees, as the Home Care program is folded into the general assistance fund. Voshell said Bombei is on board to help with the transition, having done similar work with other counties previously.

The Home Care program will run for another 90 days before concluding with the county.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com