by Olivia P. Tucker
Times Reporter
Scott County Health Department is anticipating a possible increase in funding from the state of Indiana.
Scott County Health Department Administrator Michelle Matern explained to the Scott County Council at their regular meeting on April 11 that the Scott County Health Department receives $50,000-$55,000 yearly from the state to provide public health. The Indiana State Senate Governor’s Health Commission (Senate Bill 4) would increase that funding to $100 million in 2024 to be divided among the counties of Indiana.
“The reason why Governor Eric Holcomb established the Governor’s Health Commission is because Indiana’s life expectancy is trending downward from the national average,” said Matern. Scott County has an average life expectancy of 72.9 to 73 years of age, making it the lowest average in the state of Indiana.
With the improvement of funding, the local health departments are required to have new core services that are to help improve the life expectancy in Indiana. Matern said some of the core services are offered in Scott County in some way but would work with other services to achieve the services These include Scott County Partnership, tobacco cessation, WIC or New Hope Services for sleep and infant mortality rates, immunizations and blood screenings.
Matern said that the Scott County Health Board and Scott County Board of Commissioners would have to come up with plan if the commissioners decide to have the core services provided in Scott County.
Matern added that she is looking into the gaps in the health department in Scott County to improve the health outcomes while a decision is being made at the state level about the health commission.