Delaware County health officials prepare as Crozer Health System uncertainty and federal lab grants shift

Delaware County Health Department Director Laura Warner told the county Board of Health that staff are preparing for potential disruptions from the ongoing Crozer Health System bankruptcy proceedings and concurrent federal funding changes.

Warner said negotiations around Crozer remain "very active" and that the department is preparing "for the worst" while continuing to participate in work groups convened by the county Department of Emergency Services. "We continue to work very actively at the health department to prepare for the worst since we still don't have the good news that we're anticipating or hoping for," Warner said.

Warner said the department is maintaining a wellness line for community questions and will host a panel discussion to help residents navigate the health system amid uncertainty. The session is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, at the county wellness center in Yeadon and virtually from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., and registration information will be posted on the department website.

Separately, Warner briefed the board on federal funding risks tied to the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) grants that flow from HHS through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to states and then to local health departments. "We don't yet know what's going to happen. We always knew that the ELC funding would go away. It was related to the pandemic, and it was we were expecting it to sunset in the next two years, but this may be happening more quickly than we anticipated," Warner said. She added the department is working on plans to remain resilient and carry on core functions if funding declines.

Board members and staff emphasized the local role in emergency preparedness that cannot be shifted to hospitals if systems are disrupted. Warner described the department's involvement in regional work groups and repeated that county staff are coordinating with state partners.

Warner also highlighted other ongoing programs intended to preserve access to care and public-health surveillance. She said the department will continue public information efforts and outreach while adjusting operations in response to evolving funding and hospital-network developments.

The board offered no formal vote on the Crozer situation; Warner and staff framed their remarks as operational updates and planning steps. The department said it will provide updates to the board as hearings and federal funding decisions develop.