Tama County board approves proceeding with sale process for in‑home public‑health services pending legal review

Tama County public‑health leadership presented a proposal on March 30 to transfer the county’s Home Health services. Public Health Director Stacy Koeppen told the board the proposal would transfer the Home Health portion of public health and the presentation included a stated purchase amount of $20.00.

After lengthy discussion about continuity of care for patients who do not qualify for insurance, legal authority for a sale, and possible impacts on private providers, the board voted to proceed with the sale process contingent on a legal review and to require sealed bids. The motion to proceed (moved by Supervisor Curt Hilmer and seconded by Supervisor David Turner) carried on a split vote: Hilmer, Turner and Knebel voting aye; Chair Mark Doland voting nay. Board members favoring the motion cited keeping services local and addressing liability risks; the opposing member raised concerns about patient coverage and private‑sector interference.

Separately, the board unanimously directed the Tama County Board of Health to prepare a transition plan to identify how individuals without health insurance currently receiving in‑home services would be covered, and to return to the supervisors with cost and staffing estimates for county coverage options.

The board’s votes authorized only the next steps: legal review and a sealed‑bid process. No sale was finalized at the meeting; the board asked for legal counsel to confirm the permissible process and for the Board of Health to present a transition plan before final action.