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Health director says emergency action preserved corrections medical contracts after county funding cuts
Summary
Doctor Cunningham told the board the county council cut roughly $4.8 million from health contracts; staff used an emergency meeting to keep medical services running and said patients experienced no interruption in care.
Doctor Cunningham told the board that an emergency approval was needed after the county council reduced health‑care contract funding — she cited roughly $4.8 million in cuts across department contracts and said the county had the authority to deny or withhold contract funding. She described the cuts as political and said staff had repeatedly requested supplemental transfers earlier in the year.
Cunningham said the department took immediate steps to protect care continuity: "Our patients didn't experience any interruptions in care," she said, and said outreach letters were sent to residents and caregivers to explain the situation. She also noted that some opioid‑settlement funds were used for medication‑assisted‑treatment work, and urged the council to pass funding in order to avoid future brinksmanship.
Board members pressed questions about preventing similar conflicts; Cunningham said the council holds formal authority over contracts and that earlier requests had been submitted but not acted on before cuts were finalized.
