Saline County Commission Votes to Keep Home Health in 2027 Budget After Public Outcry

The Saline County Board of Commissioners decided not to remove public home health services from the 2027 budget, following a study session and heavy public turnout at the August 11, 2026 meeting.

Commissioner Annie Grevas announced the decision at the start of the public forum, saying it was reached by consensus during a 30-minute study session. "The public health, home health, will not be removed from the budget for 2027," she said. She thanked community members who reached out by email and phone, and said she also spoke with for-profit providers in the community.

As a result of the decision, Health Department Director Jason Tiller's planned action item on the future of home health was converted to an informational item, and the commission formally voted to remove the action item (2026-87) from the agenda.

Commissioners emphasized that the budget review originated with the commission, which had asked all department heads where money could be saved. "It was this commission who addressed every department head when it came time for budgets," one commissioner said, adding that home health had been "on our plate for numerous years."

During an informational presentation, Tiller detailed the department's operations. He said the agency has been Medicare certified for about 60 years and currently serves a census of about 55 patients, including 24 who have been served for more than two years and one for 26 years. He said the department has two RN and other nursing positions that have been vacant for roughly a year, which has limited its ability to take new patients. In July, he said, eight new patient referrals had to be turned away amid budget uncertainty.

Tiller noted that roughly 80% of the department's expense is salary and benefits, and that county pay structures make it difficult to compete with private-sector wages. He outlined external pressures, including federal Medicaid cuts, added Medicare regulations, and a Medicare moratorium on new home health agency applications that took effect in May.