February 03, 2022

New law could bring change to the Houston County Healthcare Authority - WDHN

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala. (WDHN) — A new law proposed this week to the Alabama lawmakers could bring some changes to the Houston County Healthcare Authority Board, which is the board that oversees Southeast Health.

House Bill 196, proposed by state Rep. Steve Clouse and Rep. Jeff Sorrels would open up who could nominate candidates to that board and give power to both Houston County Commissioners and the Authority to appoint members.

As of now, just the Authority has the power to nominate. Which has caused disagreement among commission members on the need for a change.

“To me why would you want to take someone off the board that is doing a great job,” District 2 Houston County Commissioner, Doug Sinquefield said. “That has been there many years. Got the experience and knows how health care works.”

But for other commissioners, like Ricky Herring who represents District 3, they would like to see more transparency with the process of selection for the health care authority board that is made up of 13 members and oversees the largest employer in the Wiregrass, Southeast Health.

“This bill is not trying to overthrow the board whatsoever,” Herring said. “I want to work with them and this bill will ensure the commissioner’s voice is heard.”

Last year, Herring tried to nominate someone, within the appropriate time window that state law requires. He believed this person was the best fit to serve on the board. However, he said the board refused to even consider appointing that person and that’s why Herring objects.

“This health care authority receives millions of dollars from the citizens of this county,” Herring said. “This is not about a particular person, this is about the process. This bill will give the citizens of this county the opportunity to have a voice.”

Since the Authority receives so much money from the county, Herring believes it’s the responsibility of county commissioners to nominate someone who has the experience and morals for the job.

However, Sinquefield said the board has been doing this and this new law could cause a major backlash.

“I felt like the Southeast Health Care Authority was doing an excellent job in what they were doing with the people they have on the board,” Sinquefield said.

The current law as of now allows the Authority to select the members to be nominated and the Houston County Commissioners could only choose from among those candidates. Which is a process Sinquefield believes works.

“They do go to those commissioners, they ask them if that is okay if they have any concerns and if they are okay with the appointee they want to put on that board,” Sinquefield said.

The new law is set to go to a house committee that will then decide whether or not to advance it to the floor.

source: https://www.wdhn.com/news/local-news/new-law-could-bring-change-to-the-houston-county-healthcare-authority/

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New law could bring change to the Houston County Healthcare Authority - WDHN