Concerns over patient care and the lack of a transition plan have stalled a proposal to eliminate St. Clair County’s participation in the federal Title X program.
The County Advisory Board of Health took no action this week on a recommendation by Medical Director Dr. Remington Nevin to discontinue acceptance of the federal grant funds, which help provide low-cost or free family planning services and preventative healthcare.
Nevin argued the health department should phase out the optional program to focus resources on mandatory duties, such as communicable disease prevention. He suggested that current patients could seek alternative options, including McLaren’s family medicine residency program, or purchase over-the-counter contraceptives from local pharmacies.
However, McLaren Port Huron officials said in a statement they were publicly named by Nevin as a destination for patients without any advance coordination. The hospital confirmed their residency clinic has the medical capacity, but called the lack of communication “concerning.” They warned that altering a public health service without close collaboration among local providers risks creating an immediate gap in care, particularly for low-income or uninsured patients.
Staffing changes are also part of Nevin’s rationale. The department is currently down one full-time Nurse Practitioner, and another has reportedly shared intentions to move to Community First Health Centers, which is scheduled to take over Port Huron’s school-based clinic from the health department at the end of September. The shifts leave the health department with only one part-time Nurse Practitioner.
Health department data highlights a strong local demand for the program, which served 871 individual clients last year, an increase of 259 patients over the previous year. Officials also noted that cutting the program would displace a minimum of five health department staff members across various departments. Title X provides roughly half a million dollars to the health department annually through the grant itself and insurance compensation.
Nevin’s proposal drew overwhelming public opposition during Wednesday’s meeting. The public comment period lasted nearly an hour and featured audience outbursts that forced a ten-minute recess in an attempt to restore order.
Members of the Advisory Board of Health ultimately declined to support cutting Title X services without a proven plan to protect current patients from healthcare gaps. Because no board member introduced a motion to back the recommendation, the meeting concluded without a formal vote. Nevin agreed to wait and see if a dedicated Nurse Practitioner or Deputy Physician Assistant can be hired before taking further steps.
