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Alabama Dept. of Public Health to make cuts following major budget shortfall


(WPMI) Alabama Dept. of Public Health to make cuts following major budget shortfall
(WPMI) Alabama Dept. of Public Health to make cuts following major budget shortfall
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The Alabama Department of Public Health is facing a funding shortfall and we're already feeling the effects locally.

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris says the department needs to make up $8 to $9 million dollars.

He says to do that they plan to cut back everywhere.

The Mobile County Health Department has lost six employees.

Baldwin County, Washington County, and Escambia County, Alabama all have state health department offices as well. There's been no word yet on how they'll be impacted.

Dr. Harris says the state is losing money for a few reasons.

For one, fewer people are going to county health departments.

Also, they see a lot of patients who don't have health insurance.

He says the department wants to make sure it stays available in places that have no other health care options.

"There are some communities that have need our black belt communities, for example, have a population that are incredibly disadvantaged and we may be the only provider in that county. I don't see how we can stop providing services ion that county no matter what. Again, the mathematics with that are real challenging," said Dr. Harris.

Health officials are now looking at what services are most important in each county and what cuts are feasible.

A finalized plan is expected in the next few weeks.

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