Health Committee

October 12, 2004 – 7:30 a.m.

DRAFT Minutes

 

Members present: Dr. Paul DiGiovanni, Chairman; Larry Cornell, Vice Chairman; Mike McKee; Carol Tytler; Newell Willcox; Steve Dafoe, Tamara Wyant; Scott Steve, Chairman of the Legislature

Others present: Ann Homer, Linda Medeiros, Administrative Officer–Mental Health; Jackie Gailor, Public Health Director; Elaine Lambert, Director, Jacobus Center for Reproductive Health; Dr. Charles Capanzano, Director of Mental Health; Harriet Webb, Health Department

Dr. DiGiovanni called the meeting to order at 7:43 a.m..

On the motion of Mr. Willcox, seconded by Mrs. Tytler. All members voting in favor; none opposed; minutes of the September 7, 2004, meeting were approved as printed.

 

Resolutions:

 

     

  1. Authorize Agreement, Health Department/Administration (Cortland Memorial Hospital Transfer Agreement) –Mrs. Tytler moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell. Mrs. Gailor explained that this agreement is required by law. All members voting in favor; none opposed; motion adopted.

    2.  

  2. Authorize Agreement, Health Department/Hospice (Contractual Services) –Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mrs. Tytler. Mrs. Gailor explained that this is a financial review. These services are not provided by the CPA’s we normally use; the provider of the contract specializes in this type of work. All members voting in favor; none opposed; motion adopted.

    3.  

  3. Authorize Agreement, Health Department/Hospice (Program Services) –Mrs. Tytler moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Wyant. Mr. Cornell moved to strike "colleges for student placement" seconded by Mr. Willcox. All members voting in favor of amendment; none opposed; amendment adopted. All members voting in favor of the amended resolution; none opposed; resolution as amended adopted. Mrs. Gailor indicated that this is required by law.

    4.  

  4. Authorize Agreement, Health Department/Hospice (Transfers/Referrals) – Mrs. Tytler moved adoption ; seconded by Mr. Cornell. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted. Mrs. Gailor indicated that this is required by law.

    5.  

  5. Authorize Agreement/Accept Funds, Health Department/Administration (Healthy Heart Program) - Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mrs. Tytler. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted. Mrs. Gailor indicated that these are mini-grants to community groups/schools for money to improve physical activity in the target population. Dr. DiGiovanni asked how we monitor the success of the program. Mrs. Gailor indicated that the measurement of success is how much the facilities are used. Mrs. Tytler asked who collects the data. Mrs. Gailor indicated that the recipients have to report back to the Health Department on utilization.

    6.  

  6. Authorize Agreement/Accept Funds, Health Department/Administration (Tobacco Enforcement Program) – Mrs. Tytler moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell. Mrs. Gailor indicated that this is used to fund the "stings" and is required by the State. Mrs. Tytler asked how we get the students. Mrs. Gailor indicated that we ask for volunteers, but all volunteers have to have parental permission to participate. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

    7.  

  7. Authorize Agreement/Accept Funds, Health Department/ Administration (Central NY Regional Immunization Information System) – Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mr. McKee. Mrs. Gailor indicated that this is an annual grant we receive to provide tacking of immunization for children, so if the children move, their immunization records follow them. This is done in compliance with HIPAA. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

    8.  

  8. Authorize Agreement/Accept Funds, Health Department/Administration (Eat Well Play Hard Grant) – Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mrs. Tytler. Mrs. Gailor indicated that this was a new grant last year. This allows us to contract with a dietician. Funds not utilized by December 31 will roll over into next year’s budget. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

    9.  

  9. Authorize Agreements, Health Department/Nursing (Contracted Services) – Mrs. Tytler moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Wyant. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

    10.  

  10. Authorize Agreements, Health Department/Administration (Educational Institutions) Mrs. Tytler moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell. Mrs. Gailor explained that there are students from educational institutions who use our facilities for placement. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

    11.  

  11. Amend 2004 Budget, Health Department/ Jacobus Center for Reproductive Health (Anna Hilton Estate Donation) – Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mrs. Tytler. Ms. Lambert explained what will be purchased with these funds. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

    12.  

  12. Amend 2004 Budget, Health Department/Jacobus Center for Reproductive Health (Wilkins Foundation Donation)- Mr. Cornel moved adoption; seconded by Mrs. Tytler. Ms. Lambert explained that this will be used in conjunction with the Youth Bureau for the essay contest; part of it is for ZAP Peer training curriculum; for additional training; for ZAP Peer recognition events. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

    13.  

  13. Resolution Urging Rescission of Regional Transportation Ceilings Under Section 4410 of the State Education Law – Mrs. Tytler moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell. Mrs. Gailor indicated we have not yet reached the ceiling on transportation but we are close. Once we reach the ceiling, the State will no longer fund the transportation. Mr. McKee asked what transportation we are talking about. Mrs. Gailor indicated that this is Pre-K and we contract with Birnie Bus; it is for children aged 3 to 5. Mrs. Tytler asked why the school district doesn’t pay some of the cost instead of the County absorbing it. Mrs. Gailor indicated that the school district does not pay anything. Mrs. Tytler asked where the Racker Center stands with the local autism program. Status unknown at this point. Mrs. Gailor indicated that the transporter has worked with us on rates for out of county transport. We do not have to pay the per child rate for every child on the same trip. Mrs. Tytler said she feels that we should be looking intensely at how we can better spend the money we are paying for transportation. She would like to know who is going to look at this and help us with this. Mrs. Gailor indicated that the Health Department can look into this more intensely, including an incentive offer to get a program started locally. Mrs. Gailor will coordinate this effort. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

    14.  

  14. Authorize Agreements, Mental Health Department (Mental Health Services) – Mrs. Tytler moved adoption; seconded by Mr. McKee. All members voting in favor; none opposed except Mr. Steve; resolution adopted. Mrs. Medeiros indicated that this is to give the department a head start on the 2005 contract. Mr. Steve indicated that we are paying providers with whom we do not have contracts. Mr. Steve feels that each contract should be identified individually. Mrs. Medeiros indicated that the circumstances in which the provider has not complied is with the psychiatrists (Mental Health is recommending that these positions become part-time; Mr. Schrader has indicated that this issue should wait until after the passage of the budget). There was a lengthy discussion regarding the County’s liability surrounding this issue. Mrs. Medeiros distributed a survey of how other counties are dealing with the psychiatric insurance issues. One psychiatrist added Cortland County as an additional insured, and the County paid for that. The other two psychiatrists have insurance providers who will not add Cortland County as an additional insured. Mrs. Medeiros found an insurance company who would add Cortland County. She provided that information to the two psychiatrists but they were not willing to change to the other insurance company. Mrs. Tytler asked if the two psychiatrists could get an additional policy from the second insurance company. Mr. Steve is going to write a memo that effective October 20, 2004, we will not issue a check to anyone with whom we don’t have a contract. Mrs. Tytler moved to reconsider the vote; seconded by Ms. Wyant. All members voting in favor of reconsidering; none opposed. Upon the main resolution being placed before the assembly, the group feels we need more information in order to appropriately consider it; the names of the providers need to be included in a future revised resolution. No members voting in favor; all opposed; resolution defeated.

    15.  

  15. Authorize Agreements, Mental Health Department (Several Agencies, Department, etc.) – Mrs. Medeiros indicated that the amounts are not included because the budget has not yet been adopted. Mrs. Tytler moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell. All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

 

 

DISCUSSION:

 

1. Budget Discussion – Health Department

 

Dr. DiGiovanni felt that the committee should have received information on the 2004 budget, so an accurate comparison could be made. He felt that this made it difficult for him to review the budget. Mrs. Gailor indicated that the department looks at the current year’s budget when preparing the forthcoming year’s budget; however, this is not how the budget has been prepared in the past. Mrs. Tytler feels that this is how the budget requests should be prepared in the forthcoming year. Mrs. Gailor distributed a one-page worksheet reflecting the 2004 budget compared to the 2005 budget request. Mrs. Gailor indicated that in the past when the budget has been reviewed with the committee, they have had the MUNIS printout to compare the figures.

 

Dr. DiGiovanni asked why there is such an increase in the Pre-K line? Mrs. Gailor indicated that this is based on the projections in the schools for 2005 and includes the retroactive rate increase. Mrs. Gailor indicated that the retroactivity is only done approximately every two to three years. The growth is based on the new kids coming in to the program in 2005.

 

Mrs. Tytler asked why there is a drop in Administration? Mrs. Gailor indicated that it is because of the drop in grants. However, this will change in 2005 when the grant rollovers kick in. Mrs. Tytler asked if we know there is going to be rollovers why we don’t put that money in now. Mrs. Gailor indicated because we don’t know how much of a grant will be left to rollover and we rollover to the penny. Mrs. Tytler indicated that 37% of our administration is grant-funded; do we expect 37% of funding to rollover to bring this dollar amount up? Mrs. Gailor indicated that we can’t give a definite number at this time.

 

Dr. DiGiovanni expressed frustration that Mr. Schrader is not here. The committee will meet later this month to discuss the two departmental budgets in meetings strictly for that purpose. Dr. DiGiovanni will e-mail Mrs. Gailor a document containing questions.

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.

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