The Porter County Health Department is welcoming Dr. Rodney Guimont as its new, full-time health officer after receiving unanimous approval from the Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning. Guimont, a family practice physician based in Chesterton, will work with outgoing public health officer Dr. Maria Stamp over the next two weeks to bring about a smooth transition.
“You have some big shoes to fill,” said Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, referring to Stamp who led the county’s COVID-19 response efforts during the pandemic and served as public health officer for 13 years.
“He’s had a lot of leadership and management experience as well,” Dr. Linda Boxum, chair of the Board of Health, told the commissioners.
Guimont is currently the medical director for a national medical company doing utilization reviews and previously served as medical director of urgent care for Northwest Health from 2017 to 2020. He attended medical school at the American University of the Caribbean and completed his residency at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.
He will continue in his role with the national medical company as he takes on the health officer position, which requires 24/7 availability.
“I’ve had several medical director roles,” Guimont said. “Leadership has always been part of every job I’ve recently had.”
Before launching its formal search six and a half months ago, the health department touted the fluid, flexible nature of the position as one of the benefits that might lure candidates from more lucrative private practice positions. “This is a very crazy, but exciting time to be involved in the health department,” Boxum said.
State funding to the department has increased significantly since the county opted in to receiving monies provided by Senate Bill 4 and the department is in the midst of a major renovation to its suite of offices in the basement of the Administration Building.
In other business, also health-related, Board of Commissioners Vice President Barb Regnitz, R-Center, gave an overview of the new Health Savings Account-centered health plan adopted by the county for its employees versus the traditional PPO plan it is switching from for next year. First, Regnitz explained, using an enrolled family as an example, the new plan will carry a $4,000 deductible versus the former PPO deductible of $2,000.
She said the $1,200 HSA contribution provided by the county and the $1200 in premium savings over the old plan would bring that out-of-pocket cost down to $1600 on the new plan, saving families $400. She said once the deductible has been met “pretty much all of your medical expenses are met at 100%” because the plan does not have co-insurance that would kick in once the deductible is met. The current PPO plan has a 20% co-insurance.
Regnitz added that the deductible can be met with pre-tax dollars, while the PPO deductible cannot. She also said funds can be carried over to the next calendar year and invested once a certain threshold balance is met.
The county is also adding the Northwinds Diabetic Blueprint to its HealtheAccess Clinic for employees. The county spends $3 million on pharmaceuticals for its employees each year, 39% of which are related to diabetes care.
Steve Zetzl of Northwinds explained 102 people are currently using diabetes medications on the county plan. He said there’s $170,000 in potential savings by requiring those covered to receive all their medications and supplies in kits they will pick up from the clinic. The program also requires them to check in with a medical professional when they collect their kits.
“Moving them over to this to get a little bit of accountability,” Zetzl said.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
