(Radio Iowa) – A report from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services proposes big changes to public health models, including the consolidation of county public health offices into ten to 15 regions across Iowa. It could mean local public health workers would become state employees. Kaitlin Emrich, public health director for Black Hawk County, worries the quality of care could diminish the further it gets from the local level. “It would have significant impacts on how we serve our communities,” Emrich says.

“Obviously, we would lose some decision making, and potentially have workforce changes along with that as well.” She says keeping public health as close to home as possible is important for quality care.

“As locals, we tend to really be proud of the fact that we know our communities well,” Emrich says, “that we understand what their needs are, and are adaptive to their needs and responsive to their needs.” Under the proposal from H-H-S, each of the state’s new health office regions would be serving at least 30-thousand people.