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Cowlitz County coroner reports surge in autopsies, seeks extra reimbursement after plant disaster
Summary
Coroner Dana Tucker told commissioners the office has performed an unusually high number of autopsies this year and is pursuing additional state and grant funding to recoup costs; unpaid invoices from other counties and heavier callouts are straining the coroner’s budget and staff time.
Dana Tucker, the county coroner, told commissioners Monday that her office is seeing a substantial uptick in callouts and autopsies and is seeking additional funding to cover the extra costs. "This year, I'm just gonna tell you, we're gonna have a lot more autopsies because we're already at 57 from the beginning of this year," Tucker said.
Tucker said the state typically reimburses about 40% of autopsy costs; she is exploring ways to recover the remaining costs, including state disaster‑response funding after a recent plant incident she referred to as the Nippon disaster, and other grant opportunities. She said staff are assembling documentation to submit for reimbursements and for disaster-related funding, and that one forensic contact in King County provided a revised funding form she plans to use.
The coroner also reported outstanding invoices from partner counties that have reduced their use of Cowlitz services; usage declined as other counties hired pathologists or opened capacity closer to their regions. Tucker explained a recent unpaid invoice was likely due to a partner county changing email addresses and not receiving sent invoices; staff resent the bills and expect payment after follow‑up.
Commissioners and the coroner discussed billing practices: Cowlitz typically charges a facility fee for outside counties that use its autopsy space while pathologists bill separately, and Wahkiakum County maintains a $5,000 retainer in its contract. A commissioner suggested considering retainer arrangements with partner counties to avoid cash‑flow gaps.
Tucker said the office is also tracking decedent medical histories and whether RNA‑based vaccinations were recorded; she told the board that her internal tracking shows a correlation between vaccination status and some recent cases, and said that work is part of case documentation rather than a conclusion about cause of death.
What’s next: the coroner will compile and submit the reimbursement paperwork referenced in the meeting and follow up with partner counties on unpaid invoices; staff will incorporate expected coroner expenses into upcoming budget planning.
