PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) — A invoice that may take energy from native well being departments is making its manner by means of the West Virginia Senate.
Senate Invoice 12, if handed, would give county commissioners oversight of well being coverage as an alternative of native well being boards. This, Mercer County Commissioner Greg Puckett, mentioned is detrimental to public well being.
“Native boards of well being are protected beneath statute to implement good sturdy well being insurance policies. Should you put that possession again on county commissions, then that very same protections and people insurance policies don’t exist anymore,” Puckett mentioned.
He mentioned these protections save the county cash by not going into litigation with each resolution made. However with out them, Puckett mentioned the county shall be footing the invoice.
After twenty years of combating for public well being, Puckett mentioned deciding on a board of well being administrators is best for the general well being of the general public.
“Principally regardless of the county board of well being says is the way in which that the coverage goes to be written in that exact county. If this goes by means of, this might permit extra oversight by county commissions that might presumably override that,” mentioned Puckett.
Puckett mentioned there are various causes to maintain public well being within the palms of these chosen for the job.
He mentioned the board of well being is hand picked and one of the best persons are chosen for the positions.
Puckett mentioned the state of West Virginia ought to be working collectively to create wholesome counties as an alternative of dividing them.
“This isn’t a republican or democrat challenge. It is a human rights challenge. That is one thing that we ought to be doing for the safety of everybody it doesn’t matter what social gathering you’re from. Regardless of something that you simply do, you have to be defending your public,” mentioned Puckett.
We reached out to the Senator Mike Maroney, who’s heading SB12. He was unavailable for remark.
