Conifer residents who have relied on the county health department clinic for vaccinations, nutrition counseling, help with Medicaid processing and other services will have to find a new facility as of June 30.
Dr. Mark Johnson, head of Jefferson County’s health department, said a drop in county revenue is forcing closure of the 15-year-old clinic.
The Conifer Women, Infants and Children’s services program will end July 31.
“I’m really sorry to do this,” Johnson said.
Two other clinics, in Lakewood and Edgewater, will remain open.
The Conifer clinic’s two employees have been offered transfers, Johnson said.
Jefferson County officials are looking to cut a minimum of $7 million from the 2008 budget because of lower revenues and higher costs.
County Commissioner Kevin McCasky said elected officials and department directors are looking for ways to operate more efficiently.
“What the county has done is told all of us to prepare a budget with a 15 percent cut,” Johnson said.
Closing the clinic “is obviously unfortunate,” McCasky said.
The Conifer clinic saw about 353 clients last year, about 3 percent of the total county caseload.
County clinics serve everyone, Johnson said. However, about 85 percent to 90 percent of the clinics’ clients qualify for free services because they cannot afford to pay.
Staff writer Ann Schrader contributed to this story.
Staff writer Karen Augé can be reached at 303-954-1733.
