Local public health officials say the potential loss of funding could severely impact several essential services, including vaccines, cancer screening and testing for sexually transmitted infections.
A national public health expert said the situation is unique in the U.S. and a threat to the entire public health field — especially going into an election year when health officials and their department could again become political targets.
“I’m hoping this isn’t the start of a new trend of retroactive punishment against public health departments.”More than than 300,000 people live in Ottawa County, making it Michigan's seventh largest county.
“You should not be at war with your health providers.”The Network for Public Health Law and the National Association of County and City Health Officials filed amicus briefs in support of Hambley’s lawsuit last month.
And Freeman said her organization is keeping a close eye on Ottawa County: “This isn't something we want on the books for other county commissioners to consider in the future."
Persons:
COVID, they’ve, ”, Lori Freeman, “ I’m, Herman Miller, Joe Moss, Sylvia Rhodea, — Moss, Rhodea, John Gibbs, Adeline Hambley, Jacob Bonnema, it's, Hambley, “, ” Hambley, Gibbs, Moss, —, Freeman, Robert Wood Johnson
Organizations:
National Association of County, City Health, Ottawa, Republican, Diversity, Equity, Associated Press, AP, Hambley, Grand Haven, Public Health Law, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Locations:
Mich, Michigan, U.S, Ottawa County, Ottawa, Grand