FAIRMONT — Just recently, $165,000 went up in smoke for the Health and Human Services (HHS) offices for Martin and Faribault Counties.

These cuts come along with a wave across the Minnesota Department of Health. A press release sent out April 1 includes 170 employee layoffs, reducing support for nursing home projects, suspension of partner-led vaccine clinics and emergency preparedness activities and reduced lab support for hospitals.

The communication was sent to HHS at 5 p.m. on March 25. HHS Director Chera Sevcik said they had received the funds during the COVID pandemic, but they were theirs to use.

“We were told to cease activities with that federal funding immediately,” she said.

It was actually sent a day late, as the notice stated that the use of funding should cease on March 24. With the funding gone, several programs are now out of commission.

“That was going to be used for promoting childhood vaccinations as we see an increased risk of things like measles,” Sevcik said. “Promoting childhood development examinations. Help with community support around mental health and wellbeing. Help people get out of poverty and in general after COVID. Those programs are terminated unless we find alternative funding to support the work.”

Thankfully, Sevcik said the cuts did not affect staffing. Now, they are turning their attention to assessing their funding and where cuts can come from next.

“We’re continuing to monitor the impacts of cuts to federal funding and how those cuts can impact state funding,” she said. “We’re keeping close tabs on what’s happening and keeping our local officials involved and up to date on what is involved. We want to make sure we have a good handle on programs and the impact funding cuts would have.”

The concern is since these funds were terminated with no advance notice, it could happen again.

“The uncertainty of what’s to come, if funding can be completely terminated with no notice, it makes us very uncertain of the future,” Sevcik said. “We need state and federal funding to help the people in our counties.”

Looking forward, Sevcik said the most likely cuts to come next are to Medical Assistance, Minnesota’s Medicaid program.

“At this time, we are being told to expect reductions in medical assistance which is used by people for healthcare and nursing home costs,” she said. “That pays for nursing home placements and pregnant families and newborns to ensure positive outcomes through prenatal care they need.”

On the nursing home side, Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center Administrator Deb Barnes said costs make medical assistance a necessity for some of its long-term residents.

“Our costs can be $500 to $600 a day,” she said. “They either pay on their own or pay using medical assistance. Sometimes it is a combination of social security and medical assistance.”

Of the residents they have, 45 percent use medical assistance in some fashion. Without that support, some will not be able to continue getting the care they need. In addition, Barnes said they are concerned about potential funding changes at the state level.

“HHS looks at our cost reports and they determine how much they need to give us due to our expenses. The governor’s proposal is to cap us at 2 percent increases in funding. Even if our expenses expand by 8 or 10 percent, the funding increase could only be by 2 percent.”

With everything in mind, Sevcik said they are working with the community as much as possible.

“We are thinking of ways we can manage the different dynamics,” she said. “Especially as clients come in concerned about their medical assistance. We’re providing as much information as we can to our community.”

For those with concerns, Sevcik said they should let their representatives know about it.

“It’s really important to have conversations with your elected officials to let them know how these cuts are or can impact you,” she said. “Keep sharing your story. Keep letting your voice be heard about how this can impact our communities.”