Utah’s Top Doc Details “Tough Times” for Health Department

10.21.2009 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) The Utah Department of Health wasn’t spared when state lawmakers cut about a billion dollars from the budget earlier this year. The result: Layoffs for five percent of the agency’s workforce, and pending cuts to health care services for thousands of low-income adults, children and disabled residents. Executive Director Dr. David Sundwall told the legislature’s top budget committee yesterday that all in all, the cuts were tough, but administered well.

“We together have gone through tough times and we’ve come out, I wouldn’t say well, but we’ve come out not dropping the ball on services in general,” Sundwall said.

The health department’s budget was cut by $53 million dollars, though about $51 million was put back in through one-time funds that won’t be available next year. Future cuts will include eliminating services for 1,000 special needs children throughout the state. And about 5,000 to 6,000 uninsured Utahns won’t be able to get care at one of 26 community health centers funded by a state block grant that’s also on the chopping block.

The Medicaid reimbursement rates for health care providers have also been slashed by about $5.5 million, with more cuts pending. Senate Minority Leader Pat Jones is concerned by the number of providers who have now dropped Medicaid services.

“I’m just concerned about where these families are going to go to get services, if the access is denied,” Jones said. “And I think what we’re doing is we’re finally seeing the actual impacts of these cuts in health and human services. You know, this is one small indication, but it is so important that we provide those services to these people.”

Meanwhile, the number of people enrolling in Medicaid continues to increase because of the economic downturn.