March 13, 2024 (Bannock County News Update, March 11, 2024)
Bannock County is trying to establish a forensic pathology center in Pocatello to provide autopsy services for all of east Idaho.
The facility—aptly named the Eastern Idaho Forensic Pathology Center—would potentially serve 17 counties on this side of the state.
The eventual idea for the facility is that counties would purchase a yearly subscription to conduct autopsies based on their county population, which would cover the cost of running the facility. However, for the remainder of the fiscal year 2024, the Board of Commissioners will follow the same fee structure that Ada County uses—$2,300 per autopsy, plus additional fees for toxicology and other tests.
Planning for this project has been slow and deliberate due to the number of challenges and concerns faced in setting up a facility like this.
Here is an update about where we’re at with the project:
- The Board of Commissioners has agreed to dedicate $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to construct a facility (ARPA funds are federal funds, not from property taxes)
- Bannock County is currently asking for bids from construction companies to create a pre-fabricated steel building on property the county already owns (out by the Sheriff’s Office on South 5th – which is good for coroners getting off the interstate)
- Bannock County is holding a public hearing on March 21st to establish a fee schedule for what counties would pay for autopsies, toxicology, and histology.
- Commissioner Hough is meeting with county coroners and commissioners on the east side of the state to sign agreements that these counties will use our facility for their autopsies.
- Bannock County recently did a test run of autopsies at the Portneuf Medical Center with a company called Locums Obstetrics.
Some of the challenges and concerns facing this project are:
- Difficulty recruiting a full-time forensic pathologist to conduct the autopsies
- Need for monetary support from the legislature to ensure no county funds or additional ARPA funds are used for the implementation of the facility. Bannock County Commissioners Moser and Hough agree they will not commit more than $3.5 million in ARPA funds to construct the facility. Commissioner Crowder has voted not to allocate any ARPA or county funds for the facility.
- Concerns about the proper ownership of the facility. Ideally, Bannock County Commissioners would prefer to see the State of Idaho assume ownership and responsibility for the facility once it is established.
- Concerns for other projects (like repairing current county facilities) that ARPA could fund if Bannock County chose not to move forward with the Eastern Idaho Forensic Pathology Center
- Concerns about spending ARPA funds allocated to Bannock County to build a facility that would eventually be turned over to the State of Idaho
At this point, the Board of Commissioners is still moving forward to complete the facility construction for an opening date in the early fall of 2025.
For now, we have partnered with the Portneuf Medical Center to use their morgue to begin serving counties that have agreed to use our services (we have five pending contracts with counties waiting for the fee schedule to be established so the commission can approve them). While we continue recruiting a forensic pathologist, we’ve partnered with Locums Obstetrics to perform autopsy services when needed.
The Board of Commissioners will hear the bids for constructing the facility on Thursday, March 14. Then, we may know more about the fate of the Eastern Idaho Forensic Pathology Center.
