Tippecanoe County Health Officer Dr. Greg Loomis resigns, ending 2 years of health reforms

LAFAYETTE, Ind. ― Tippecanoe County Health Officer Dr. Greg Loomis resigned Wednesday, ending two years of contentious fighting to improve the lot of the addicted, sick and vulnerable in the county.

“The reason I’m leaving is because I’m basically at an impasse,” Loomis said during an interview Thursday morning. “I saw what needed to be fixed. I knew what we needed to do. I just needed to get the programs in place to do it.”

His efforts were thwarted by pushback from local authorities, he said, and the Journal & Courier will explore those issues in an upcoming report.

“The first time in my life, I’m fighting a fight that’s not winnable,” Loomis said.

After his two short years, Loomis leaves the county better than he found it.

"Besides the 24% decrease in opioid deaths, one of the largest in the country and a similar number of 44% decline, and fetal infant mortality, I discovered more partners with more passion and greater abilities than mine who joined enthusiastically in this venture with no regard for profits in mind," Loomis wrote in his resignation letter emailed at 12:38 p.m. Wednesday.

"With the help of Kelly Morehouse and Keyna Everett at (Community) Corrections, we’ve made some incredible changes in the care of those incarcerated preparing them better for their release into the community as productive and contributing citizens and not addicted to drugs but filled with dignity and confidence in their hearts," Loomis wrote.

Loomis will be leading an Indianapolis organization that helps bundle health insurance policies for businesses. It's an offer he turned down two years ago, just before he became the Tippecanoe County health officer.

“This all just happened Monday. It just came out of the blue,” Loomis told the J&C.

The Indianapolis group made him an offer on Monday, and Loomis accepted. He'll work from home on most days and spend only one day in the Indy office, he said.

"(B)ecause of the turn of events that have happened within the county government regarding differences that at this point are insurmountable, I’ve chosen to accept their offer," Loomis wrote in his resignation email.

In his resignation, Loomis wrote that as part of his resignation and starting July 23, Loomis will withdraw his permission for county agencies to administer medication under his medical license. All current medications under his license will need to be destroyed by that morning, Loomis wrote.

Those who need medicine refills will need to see a different doctor, and program participants will also need to be directed to a different physician, according to his resignation letter.

Nurse practitioners who operate under Loomis' license will no longer be allowed to practice under his license, he wrote.

Loomis isn't washing his hands of the county.

“What happens now is up to them. The ball’s in their court,” he said. “I’d be happy to consult for free. But I will not come back.”

Loomis resigned at the end of April but reconsidered and said he'd stay on until 2026. Monday's offer moved up that departure about 18 months.

“I would do whatever I can to help the county,” he said.

The Journal & Courier will publish a follow-up report in the coming days exploring Loomis' grievances with local government. The report will include Loomis' blunt comments, as well as responses from county officials he specifically names in his comments.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.