OSWEGO – The Oswego County Health Department today (July 31) announced that the State Department of Health has approved its plan of closing the Certified Home Healthcare Agency.
“Since 1966, Oswego County CHHA has provided services to thousands of county residents,” said County Legislator John Proud, District 7, Mexico, chairman of the Legislature’s Health Committee. “However, a number of financial issues, and elimination of state funding over the past several years, have affected the viability of the CHHA program. As the nation undergoes changes in the health care system, New York State has been working to reduce medical costs, and there are now excellent home healthcare programs available to provide services in Oswego County. The Oswego County Legislature weighed these factors and made the difficult decision to close the Certified Home Health Agency.”
“The Oswego County Health Department has been working closely with the State Department of Health and is following the state guidelines for the process of closing the Certified Home Health Agency,” Legislator Proud continued. “The Health Department submitted a draft closure plan to the state Regional Office for approval, and the draft closure plan has been approved.”
The Oswego County Health Department has followed the State Department of Health guidelines and instructions in the process of the closure, and continues to work closely with health care providers, patients, and media outlets to ensure that the community’s home health care needs are met during the transition.
“Our mission is to provide services to county residents and to protect the health of people in Oswego County,” said Jiancheng Huang, Oswego County Public Health Director. “As the nation and the state make systemic changes, our mission remains the same. We will work closely with our patients and families as they transfer to one of the first-rate home healthcare agencies now authorized by the New York State Department of Health to provide home care services in Oswego County.”
In addition to Legislator Proud, the Health Committee includes county legislators James Karasek, vice chairman, District 22, Granby; Margaret Kastler, District 1, Sandy Creek; Michael Kunzwiler, District 18, Oswego; Daniel LeClair, District 8, Pennellville; Douglas Malone, District 20, Oswego Town; and Morris Sorbello, District 23, Granby.
According to the state approved plan for the closure, the public will be informed of the closure progress through the Oswego County government website at www.oswegocounty.com and news releases distributed by the Oswego County Public Information Office.
For more information on public health services, contact the health department weekdays at 349-3547.
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So after this closure where exactly are people going to get needed services?