By Jacque Day
Murray, Ky. – The Calloway County Board of Health has the official approval to break away from the Purchase District Health Department. The county fiscal court last night supported Judge-Executive Larry Elkins' motion to make the Calloway County Health Center an independent operation. Judge Elkins says financial considerations and limited resources steered the decision. He says this move will enable the county to focus tax dollars and revenues from Medicare and Medicaid more efficiently on the local residents.
The decision by Calloway officials follows Graves County's health department, which went independent in July. The loss of now two members of the Purchase District Health Department could affect services in other member counties, says PDHD public health director Charlie Ross. He says Calloway's withdrawal will mean a significant financial hit for them.
"We're obviously disappointed. We felt like the services of the district were in the county's interest. But the legislature put the laws into effect that basically says, if the fiscal court feels otherwise and wishes to operate independently that they have that discretion. So we certainly respect that."
Ross says in the long-term, Calloway County's withdrawal could result in loss of jobs in the rest of the Purchase District Health Department. The change goes into effect July of next year. With the loss of Graves and Calloway, the District health department will serve five remaining counties: Ballard, Hickman, Carlisle, Fulton and McCracken.