A local public health crisis has been prevented - for now.
Earlier this year, the King County Health Department recommended that the North Public Health Center and the North Seattle Dental Clinic be closed due to budget deficits. These facilities are both located in North Seattle and are a critical resource for the low-income uninsured and underinsured. The North Public Health Center, for example, receives more than 50,000 visits annually.
Services provided by the public-health facilities include primary care, as well as family planning, pre- and post-natal care, immunizations, HIV/AIDS testing and dental care. Providing these services is fundamental to sustaining a healthy, vibrant community.
Washington State funded public health through the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET). However, passage of Initiative 695 in 1999 repealed the MVET, cutting state funding for public health that has never been fully restored. The resulting budget gap due to this and other revenue losses prompted the recommended closures.
A temporary victory
I was alarmed to learn about the center and clinic above, as well as the proposed closure of the Northshore Public Health Center in Bothell.
Concerned citizens immediately expressed their opposition.
Last week, I joined [King County] Executive Ron Sims in a press conference to announce short-term funding to keep these facilities open through June 2007. This is an important, but temporary, victory.
The fate of these public health facilities is a test of our leadership to ensure that all King County residents have access to health care. We need a long-term solution to fund public health services and access to medical care.
Such a solution must include the completion of King County's Public Health Operational Master Plan and a commitment by the state to finance the public health system.
We must take into account that public health has competing budget needs, including services such as communicable disease control, emergency preparedness and ensuring that our water and food supplies are safe. Our challenge is to make certain that all of these important services are sustained.
The continued fight
I applaud those who fought to restore the proposed cuts.
Last Saturday, hundreds of concerned citizens rallied at the North Public Health Center to celebrate this short-term victory and advocate for a long-term solution.
One of my top legislative priorities for 2007 will be to find a sustainable funding solution for our public health-care centers and the private not-for-profit clinics.
I encourage you to write to your local state officials to express your views on this important topic.
Metropolitan King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson lives with his wife, Colleen, in Maple Leaf.
He represents District 1 on the Metropolitan King County Council, which includes North Seattle.
You can contact him at Bob. Ferguson@metrokc.gov or 296-1001.
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