After 35 years, the Pediatric Interim Care Center in Kent – the only specialized medical facility in western Washington caring for drug-exposed babies – stopped accepting new intakes on Monday.
That’s because the Department of Children, Youth & Families canceled its contract with the Pediatric Interim Care Center, or PICC, citing state budget cuts.
PICC historically received about $700,000 annually from the state. However, the funding was significantly reduced to $100,000 annually for the next two years. Despite lawmakers voting to keep it funded, Gov. Bob Ferguson ultimately cut the funding completely through a partial budget veto…