Adair County supervisors review plan to shift public health duties to Guthrie County under one‑year agreement

Jotham Arber, Guthrie/Adair County Environmental/Public Health Director, outlined a proposal May 27 to transition Adair County’s public‑health duties from the hospital to a Guthrie County‑led model and to submit a lead‑agency proposal to the state in July. He said the plan would preserve home‑health services while moving administrative responsibilities and grant management to Public Health, subcontracted through Guthrie County.

Arber told the Adair County Board of Supervisors the proposal envisions one‑year contracts with six‑month assessments to preserve flexibility if broader regionalization occurs. He said current staffing would meet minimum requirements during a transition and that billing for home‑health services would prioritize insurance — including Medicaid and Medicare — with county funds used to cover payment gaps and sliding‑fee assistance where needed.

Catherine Olesen said the Board of Public Health approved entering into a 28E agreement with Guthrie County for public‑health services under a one‑year contract, and she characterized the arrangement as preserving a local presence while allowing Guthrie County to oversee claims and billing. Supervisors asked for clarifications about facility location, funding and how grants would be managed if the hospital transfers them to Public Health.

Supervisor Wedemeyer stressed that no permanent position, facility or full‑time funding had been approved and said the county needs a central office for Public Health. Supervisor Hoadley thanked Arber for assisting in maintaining services and noted there may be clinic space available in Fontanelle. Supervisor Walker asked whether the hospital wanted Public Health removed from hospital facilities; Arber said the matter related more to future collaboration and restructuring than an immediate removal.

The board agreed to delay hiring a permanent public‑health director until later in the year — possibly November or December — so the county can see the result of the state lead‑agency decision and have clearer information about funding and regional governance. Arber said he expects to submit a proposal to the state in July and recommended one‑year contracts with interim assessments to reduce risk during the transition.

The discussion concluded with supervisors noting the need to maintain immunization clinics, outreach, home visits and local partnerships during any transition. No formal Board of Supervisors vote on the 28E agreement was recorded in the meeting minutes; the public‑health conversation was presented to the board for information and planning.