Commissioners approve switch in medical director services from Henry County to IU Ball Health

County commissioners on May 27 approved a new medical director agreement that would move the county’s medical oversight services away from the prior Henry County arrangement to IU Ball Health, the staff-recommended provider.

Staff told commissioners that Newcastle EMS and several local fire departments have switched medical director services to IU Ball Health and that staff wanted to align with their primary EMS partner. Joel reviewed the proposed agreement and said it appeared similar to Newcastle EMS’s arrangement and that he saw no legal issues.

Commissioners asked whether the county could terminate the existing arrangement; staff said they were not aware of any formal, updated agreement and that the previous medical director at Henry County was no longer in the role. A motion to approve the new medical director agreement was moved, seconded and announced carried.

Next steps: staff will finalize contract paperwork with IU Ball Health and execute the new agreement. The transcript records that the county has funding for the change and that the cost is not large, but it does not provide the contract amount or termination terms for the prior arrangement.