by Olivia P. Tucker
Times Reporter
After earlier declining to reappoint him, Scott County Board of Commissioners approved the reappointment of Dr. Kevin Rogers as the Scott County Health Officer at their regular meeting on Wednesday, March 1.
Scott County Health Department Administrator Michelle Matern said that Rogers was earlier recommended for re-appointment by the county health board but the commissioners declined to re-appoint him to lead the county health department.
She said, the health board then held a special meeting and unanimously decided to again submit Dr. Rogers name for the commissioners to consider appointing as health officer.
Scottsburg physician Dr. Shane Avery, a county health board member, explained to the commissioners why the health board unanimously agreed to suggest Rogers reappointment a second time.
He said that Rogers has been the Scott County Health Officer for nearly 30 years through the HIV epidemic in 2015 and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Avery said 20 years ago it wouldn’t have been a problem to find a health officer in Scott County because all of the local physicians were independent. That is the issue that the health board is up against, today, nearly all doctors are employees of medical health groups and not independent physicians.
“But a county health officer is essential for the ability of your health department to financially be viable and to do the things they do,” said Avery.
He said that malpractice insurance is important for a health officer to have. Dr. Avery explained that since he is an employee and no longer independent he would have to ask his employer’s permission or purchase malpractice insurance to be able to qualify to be the health officer.
Board of Commissioner’s President Mike Jones said he had no idea that the malpractice insurance was a part of the health officer requirement. He added that the county insurance wouldn’t cover malpractice.
The commissioners then voted unanimously to re-appoint Rogers as the Scott County Health Officer.