Board seeks 30-day extension to county Department of Health contract as district transitions to hiring nurses

The board agreed to request a short extension of the district’s contract with the Department of Health to maintain medical oversight while the district begins hiring its own nurses.

The Chair said the health department recently changed its staffing model, separating the director and the medical physician role, and that the department informed the district the cost for its contract would remain even as the district assumes direct hiring of nurses. Board members said they had discussed the issue with state health staff and requested a 30-day extension through July so they could clarify the scope of medical oversight and whether alternative arrangements would meet statutory requirements.

A member asked whether state statute requires the district to work through the Department of Health for medical oversight; staff said they were researching what neighboring counties are doing and whether other models would provide the necessary coverage. The Chair added that the Department of Health director is a state appointee who does not report locally, which complicates local oversight and negotiation of terms.

Members resolved to seek additional time to work with the department and flagged the need for another follow-up meeting when a board member returns; a verbal agreement to allow the extension was recorded but no roll-call tally was provided during the session.

The board instructed staff to continue discussions with the Department of Health and to bring clarified options and recommended language for any extension request at the next meeting.