No longer will the Mower County free teen health clinic be free.

The Mower County Board of Commissioners approved the recommendation of Margene Gunderson to start charging for teen health services at the Open Door Clinic operated by the county.

The decision to charge for services rendered is, in part, an outgrowth of the state's budget deficit and a reduction in state funds coming to Mower County, said Margene Gunderson, community health services director.

The county first interviewed its teen and young adult clients to see if they were willing to pay on a sliding fee scale.

"They said they were willing," Gunderson said, "Because they know they're getting a pretty good deal."

Gunderson expects to earn between $5,000 and $8,000 in revenues by charging both an annual fee and for individual services rendered, such as a specific test.

The money will help compensate for the increase in the cost of pharmaceuticals purchased by the county for teen health clinic clients.

The physicians, who donate their time to operate the clinic for the county, recommend the drugs, including oral contraceptives, to be purchased with county funds.

Gunderson told the commissioners, while the physicians try to choose generic or lower-cost drugs, "What's drying up on us is the opportunity to get drugs cheaper."

The commissioners gave their unanimous support to both of Gunderson's proposals.

The new Open Door Clinic sliding fee scale establishes fees for a standard physical examination, sexually transmitted disease testing, pregnancy testing and hepatitis (HBV) immunizations.

Since its inception, it has proven to be a valuable resource for low-income and other teenagers and young women and has had the full support of the Mower County Board of Commissioners.

Also Tuesday, the commissioners gave their approval to Gunderson's recommendation to apply for a $1,822 Minnesota Department of Health grant for combatting health disparities among refugees.

In addition, Gunderson won the board's approval to participate in the Southeast Minnesota Immunization Conference, an effort to seek to have all children registered for their immunizations and vaccinations and to have those preventative health measures registered.

Youth commission idea moves forward

The proposed new youth commission is slated to become a reality.

On Tuesday, the Mower County Board gave its unanimous approval to a proposal from Tom Neilon to form a youth commission.

Neilon, the director of Mower County Correctional Services, has been pushing for the commission after the long-range strategic planning initiative recommended its formation three years ago.

With funding from the Wilder Foundation and Blandin Foundation, Neilon can access money to train 25 individuals to serve on the commission, which would oversee youth diversion and restorative justice programs and services.

The county board's finance committee recommended the idea be pursued, but decided not to designate any funds for per diem payments to commission members.

Craig Oscarson, county coordinator,

played a "devil's advocate" for the commissioners. "What are you going to get out of it?" Oscarson asked Neilon.

Dick Lang, 4th District, said the county would benefit a great deal from the commission, especially "with the kind of training they are going to receive."

"I see no problem with a commission like this," Lang said.

Neilon said, "If we don't act now, we're gong to lose $25,000 in matching funds to spend on training for the next four years."

He said the commission members would obtain leadership training skills that would benefit them and the county for years to come.

Neilon also said if Mower County applies for the monies and receives the funding it would mark the first time in Minnesota that a county, not a city, was funded with the youth initiative money.

Gunderson supported Neilon's recommendation to seek the grant funds and form a commission.

Neilon said the county's 75 mentors serve a program without reimbursement. "I don't think we have to pay people to do these kinds of things all the time," he said.

Lang suggested, "Mower County could become a model for others."

He also said, "I think we would be missing the boat. I think this would be a wonderful initiate to pursue."

Lang made the motion to approve the commission idea and seek the grant funds. Cummings seconded it. All four commissioners voted "Aye."

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com