Fight continues to prevent health department downsizing

Another gathering of people opposed to the downsizing of the Kane County Public Health Department in Geneva Thursday revealed there are still many people lacking faith in the reasons behind the change and the impacts it will have.

The county is contemplating a shift of all its family case management to private sector organizations that are reimbursed by the federal government. Family case management provides a path to Medicaid services for about 6,000 local low-income mothers and their babies. That would also result in the layoff of 62 health department employees.

About 10 people gathered at the county government complex to stop that plan. Some came with union backgrounds. Others depend on the county health department for access to medical care. The latter all shared stories of having to wait as long as five hours (without and appointment) to get medical help from the local private health care providers who would take on the county's caseload.

Petra Rivera-Jimenez said she'd be lost if the county wasn't there to guide her through her high-risk pregnancy.

"It's an exceptional program," she said. "They are so dedicated. I was high risk. I didn't know where to go. I had lost my health care. I had lost my job. I had lost my health. And these people opened their arms and welcomed me and my pregnancy. I hope that this is not discontinued."

AFSCME is the union representing the 62 employees facing a job loss if the downsizing occurs. Union Spokeswoman Carla Williams said Paul Kuehnert, the health department's executive director, has been playing games with people's health by not being upfront about what's causing the downsizing. She said arguments about it being a lack of state money don't make sense because there are clear paths to getting whatever amount of money the state owes the health department, but those paths aren't being utilized.

"He refuses to address the issue of whether this downsizing is financially necessary or not," Williams said. "If this is not financially necessary, this plan is very disrespectful to the women and children impacted by this."

Bonnie Kunkel was the lone county board member at the gathering. She said even after a three-hour discussion with Kuehnert she's not clear why the downsizing is necessary. Kunkel said all the numbers Kuehnert has presented about delayed state payments are spurious because they incorrectly assume the state will never again pay the health department a dime. That's particularly troublesome, Kunkel said, because Kuehnert said this week he has enough faith in the state to come up with money to fund a 90-day delay in the downsizing.

"I find that statement ironic and strangely convenient," Kunkel said. "I'll also note the demographics of the people impacted by this change aren't exactly Republican, are they?"

Kunkel is a Democrat. Most of the leadership positions on the county board are controlled by Republicans.

Kuehnert said Thursday he has the utmost confidence all the local private health care providers cannot only accept the county's caseload, but provide quality service as well.

"What I'm telling those people, in addition to reassuring them, is we're going to be proactive," Kuehnert said. "We're not just going to wait and see what happens if this transition occurs. We will set up a call center where people can get information they need to get the right services or tell us their complaints. We will monitor every aspect of this new system."