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Proposed budget cuts mean thousands of Iowans could go without treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, while others would be without nursing health care, smoking cessation treatment and health insurance for children living in low-income families, the director of the state’s health department told lawmakers this morning.
The service cuts would take place if lawmakers approve Gov. Chet Culver’s budget as recommended last month, Tom Newton, director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, told lawmakers today during meeting of the budget subcommittee that oversees the department.
The department’s budget is expected to fall from $67 million to $63.8 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1.
“Obviously we’re going to try to do the best we can with the resources we have available to us but we would be liars if we said there wasn’t going to be any impact,” Newton said.
Lawmakers, both Democratic and Republican, said they are deeply concerned about the consequences. Sen. David Hartsuch, R-Bettendorf, said cuts to disease prevention would cost the state more in the long run.
Hartsuch, a member of the subcommittee, is a medical doctor. He particularly pointed out concern with such consequences as 360 fewer Iowans would be treated for tuberculosis and 570 fewer tested for hepatitis C.
“When you have an infectious disease, it’s sort of like stamping out forest fires,” Hartsuch said. “You have to do it quickly. If we’re not providing adequate resources to do that, we’re going to pay for it in the long run.”
Rep. Lisa Heddens, House chairwoman of the subcommittee, noted that it’s possible that the federal stimulus package could help make up the gap. Lawmakers regularly make adjustments to budget proposals, she noted.
“Our charge is to have a better understanding of the governor’s recommendations,” Heddens, D-Ames, said. “We need this information so we can prioritize.”
Earlier federal stimulus packages appropriated billions of dollars for wellness programs. One current version contains nothing, Newton noted. His department is not counting on federal money.
State cuts could, additionally, jeopardize other federal matching programs and result in even more drastic cuts, Newton said. His department has not estimated how much federal matching grants could be reduced by the governor’s recommendations.
Here’s a list of some of the consequences the $3.2 million cut to the state’s health department would have, according to Newton.
- 4,500 people would not be treated for chlamydia or gonorrhea, which are sexually transmitted diseases.
- 1.055 children would not receive diphtheria, tetanus and Pertussis vaccines.
- 2,300 fewer Iowans would have smoking cessation treatments.
- 835 fewer Iowans would use the 1-800-BETSOFF because of fewer advertising dollars to promote the hotline.
- 1,600 fewer low-income children would receive health services.
- 1,000 fewer veterans would receive information on hepatitis C while 570 fewer people would be tested.
- 1,800 fewer elderly Iowans would receive local public health nursing visits.
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