SRQ Daily Columnist Susan Nilon is the president of Florida Talk Radio and owner of WSRQ Radio. She hosts The Nilon Report on WSRQ Sarasota 1220AM/106.9FM weekdays 4pm-6pm. Email her at susan@wsrqradio.com

It’s not easy finding a doctor in Sarasota County that will take Medicare or Medicaid. Once you do, there is usually a long wait to get an appointment. Factor in that you don’t have any additional insurance or the financial means to pays for services independently, you have no other option than to use Sarasota County’s Health Department. Our local health department provides care for over 30,500 taxpayers. But unlike what you would expect, the local health department is managed well and is not a burden on the taxpayer.  

In an effort to squeeze healthcare out of local control, last March, Gov. Rick Scott directed the State Department of Health and Surgeon General’s Office to notify the local health departments that provide primary care to not renew their federal Affordable Care Act grants and transition out of providing primary care. Federally Qualified Health Centers may be closed in 2016 as a result of $1.9 million in federal funding being lost. Impacted by the Governor’s decision in Sarasota County are: William L. Little Health and Human Services Center, the Sallie and Sam Shapiro Children’s and Babies Medical Center and the North Port Family Service Center in Sarasota County.

Charlotte County’s health services was “transitioned” over to a private non-profit entity, who now have a wait time for a doctor's appointment between six and eight weeks. Charlotte County has not been able to keep up with meeting the needs of their community and because it is now a private company, county commissioners have no control over the agency.  

Beth Harrison, executive director of the Englewood Community Care Clinic, sent a letter to the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners stating, “We don’t want to have to rely on like the one in Charlotte County as it does not appear to be treating many patients without health insurance. Medicaid or Medicare. It’s a crisis situation in Charlotte County and I don’t want to see it replicated in Sarasota County.”

Over the past six months, both Commissioners Christine Robinson and Carolyn Mason, on behalf of the BOCC, wrote Gov. Scott numerous times asking him to allow our local health department to continue to serve “as a fiscal agent and a medical provider for the FQHC”

It fell upon deaf ears.

Now they are at a crossroads. The deadline to apply for the federal grant is coming up in October. The BOCC has been granted an extension and can apply for the federal money if they do not find a viable organization to take over the clinics by the deadline. The grant is for three years.  

One of the things we do really well in Sarasota is run our public health facilities.  Between Sarasota Memorial Hospital and the County Health Department, both owned and operated by our citizens, we can proudly boast that we know what we are doing and we are doing it right.  

Gov. Scott should not be allowed to decide for us.  For pregnant mothers, young children, the elderly and the poor, the citizens of this county should be allowed to decide who we will provide care for. Once we give up our right to run our own public health system, we will never be able to get that back.  

Let the Sarasota County Commission and Gov. Scott hear from you.

SRQ Daily Columnist Susan Nilon is the president of Florida Talk Radio and owner of WSRQ Radio. She hosts The Nilon Report on WSRQ Sarasota 1220AM/106.9FM weekdays 4pm-6pm. Email her at susan@wsrqradio.com