Health Committee

November 15, 2006 - 7:30 am

DRAFT MINUTES

 

Members:                   Sean Clark, Chairman; Sandy Price, Vice Chairman; Larry Cornell, Mike McKee, Carol Tytler, Ron Van Dee and Tom Williams

Others Present:         Marilyn Brown, Chairman of the Legislature; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Jackie Gailor, Director of Public Health; Michael Kilmer, Director of Administrative Services, Mental Health Department; Dennis Whitt, County Auditor; and Corey Preston, Cortland Standard

Absent:                       Carol Tytler

Mr. Clark called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.

Mr. McKee made the motion to adopt the minutes of the October 11, 2006 meeting; seconded by Mr. Cornell.  All members present voting in favor, minutes approved as printed. 

RESOLUTIONS:

Mental Health Department

 

7.                  Authorize Agreement, Family Counseling Services Juvenile Justice Services Program – Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mr. McKee.  Mr. Kilmer explained that this is a PINS program that is funded through direct State aid.  He added that he is meeting with Kristen Monroe and Bob Gardner regarding this.  Ms. Clark asked if this is in next years budget.  Mr. Kilmer explained that it is.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

8.                  Authorize Agreement, New York State Catholic Health Plan, d/b/a Fidelis Care New

York – Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Van Dee.  Mr. Kilmer briefly explained that he has negotiated the Clinician pricing being paid the same as Nurse Practitioners.  Committee members discussed that this would bring more money back to the County for the services provided.  Mr. McKee complimented Mr. Kilmer for a job well done.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

9.                  Rescind Resolution 349-06, Amend Budget, Amend Agreement – Mr. McKee moved

adoption; seconded by Mr. Larry.  Mr. Kilmer explained that previously there were two resolutions regarding the same item and this will just eliminate one of them.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

10.              Amend Budget, NYS Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services – Mr. Van Dee moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell.  Mr. Kilmer explained that last month a resolution regarding OASIS was passed with incorrect figures for the COLA adjustment.   He added that this resolution simply corrects those figures.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

 Health Department

1.                  Authorize Agreement/Accept Funds Traffic Safety/Child Passenger Safety Program

- Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Van Dee.  Ms. Gailor explained that this is an annual grant for the car seat program and that this program pays for 160 car seats.  She additionally explained that the Health Department uses more car seats than in the past because the Sheriff’s Department previously has done a car seat program and that program has been reassigned to the Health Department.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

2.                  Authorize Agreement Central NY Regional Immunization Information System - Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Van Dee.  Ms. Gailor explained that this is an ongoing grant.  She added that the change is simply that Onondaga County had paid for the online registry program for flu clinics and have asked us to amend our agreement.  Ms. Gailor stated that there would be no cost to Cortland County.  Committee members discussed the flu clinic held on November 14, 2006.  Mr. Whitt commended those running the clinic and thanked Audrey Lewis for going out of her way to assist him.  Committee members discussed the clinic being a success.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

3.                  Authorize Agreement/Accept Funds/Children With Special Needs Program (Local

Department of Social Services) – Mr. McKee moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell.  Ms. Gailor explained that this is an ongoing agreement between the Health Department and Department of Social Services.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

4.                  Authorize Agreement Health Department/Jacobus Center for Reproductive Health

HIV Primary Care Medicaid Program Agreement – Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Van Dee.  Ms. Gailor explained that the State is requiring those receiving Medicaid funding to enter into this agreement.  She added that if the County does not sign the agreement then the County would not receive funding.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

5.                  Authorize Agreement Cortland County Health Department and Keegan Associates Website Design) – Mr. McKee moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell.  Ms. Gailor explained that the website design for the Health Department was done in 2003/04 and the department was trained on it two years ago.  She added that it is outdated and it is difficult to update quickly.  She further explained that Hugh Keegan, of Keegan Associates, gave the department a proposal regarding changing the website and the software is free.  Ms. Gailor explained that she has spoken with Rob Corpora regarding this and he has looked at the software.  She added that the department received two other bids and briefly discussed those proposals.  Ms. Gailor explained that Rob Corpora felt that Keegan Associates gave the department a break and there proposal was the better choice.  Mr. Clark explained the importance of keeping the website updated.  Ms. Gailor explained that it could have been used recently during the delay in flu vaccinations.  She discussed that the website could have explained that there was a delay in shipment not a shortage in the vaccination.  Mr. Williams inquired about using this software for other departments and possibly hiring someone county wide for updating all departmental web pages.  Mr. Schrader explained that it is more cost effective to contract for these services versus hire an employee.  The Committee discussed websites for other departments.  Mr. Williams explained that he is not opposed to this and added that he would like this to be a first step.  Mr. Schrader expressed that he would like to see functional websites and more online services.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

6.         Authorize Agreements Health Department/Hospice (Contractual Services) - Mr. Van Dee moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price.  Ms. Gailor explained that this is an annual audit for Hospice and last year the amount was $2,700 last year.  She added that every year the amount decreases.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

DISCUSSIONS/PRESENTATIONS:

 

Mental Health – Quarterly Revenue Report – Mr. Kilmer distributed and discussed the Cortland County Mental Health Department, Quarterly Revenue Report.  He informed the Committee that he set the report up a little different.  Mr. McKee inquired about Horizon House being at 127%.  Mr. Kilmer explained that Horizon House is based upon visits and units billed; there are more units being billed; more billing because there is more use. 

Mr. Schrader explained that he and Mr. Kilmer had a meeting with the State and they can ask for allocation for programs with a deficit.  Mr. Kilmer additionally explained that they could ask for funding back to 2003 in those programs.  Mr. Schrader explained that the proposed 2007 Mental Health Clinic Budget is higher than in the past because they are setting it higher for anticipated reimbursement.  He discussed the cost effectiveness of setting up the budget in this manner and the department overall. 

Mr. Williams asked that Ms. Gailor comment on the Authorize Agreement/Accept Funds/Health Department (Tobacco Enforcement Program) resolution that was not passed at the last Legislative Session.  He asked if the funding could be dissected.  Ms. Gailor explained that the funding could not be dissected.  She added that the agreement requires that the County be in compliance with all requirements of the agreement.  She further discussed that the only way that they can check on the sale of tobacco to youths is by having someone under the age of eighteen attempt to purchase tobacco.  She further added that this is the only way to receive the funding.  Committee members further discussed youth purchasing tobacco products.  Mr. Van Dee explained that he views this resolution as a way that underage youth can help out other underage youth.  Ms. Price explained that the Legislature made a point and sent a strong message.  She added that if the County does not accept the grant money they are still responsible.  She recommended that the Legislature reconsider this resolution at the next meeting.  Committee members discussed the County’s responsibility regarding the Tobacco Enforcement Program and further discussed reconsidering this at the next Legislative Session.  The consensus of the Committee was to reconsider this resolution at the next Legislative Session meeting scheduled for November 30, 2006.  

Ms. Gailor distributed and discussed Health Department Revenue Report.  She discussed quarterly billing, nursing fees and payments received for flu vaccinations.  Chairman Brown inquired about the Tobacco penalties for allowing smoking in bars and added that this is still being allowed.  Ms. Gailor discussed staffing regarding this and improvements that have been made.  Mr. Van Dee expressed that it is still a law.  Ms. Gailor explained that she believes that those that follow the law should not be penalized.  Mr. Van Dee expressed that the Committee is here to help.  Ms. Gailor further discussed that this requires a half of a clerical person to process documents for those in violation.  Mr. Clark inquired about the rotation of visiting establishments and asked if an establishment is cited are they revisited at a later date.  Ms. Gailor explained that those establishments not in compliance are revisited.  Mr. Van Dee and Mr. Schrader expressed that establishments should be visited in the morning and during lunch time hours.  Ms. Gailor expressed that she will take this back to Environmental Health Department.  She further discussed that the department is so small that the staff members are recognized before they walk in the door of an establishment.  Mr. Schrader inquired about how this works.  Ms. Gailor discussed who could make complaints and that the people at the Tobacco Coalition are interested in helping.  Mr. Schrader asked if any County employee could be trained and could take the information back to Environmental Health.  Ms. Gailor added that the individual must be prepared to attend a hearing if it comes to that.  Mr. Schrader discussed his experiences and further discussed ways that everyone can help.  Mr. Van Dee expressed that he never reads any of these complaints in the paper.  Mr. McKee asked who forces the County to do this.  Ms. Gailor expressed that it falls under the Clean Air Act.  Committee members discussed the fact that if the County does not do it the funding will be taken away.  Chairman Brown recommended that all complaints be funneled through the Environmental Health Department.  Ms. Gailor explained that if an individual who desires reporting this does not feel comfortable reporting an incident or if they feel threatened in any way then they couldn’t address it.  She further discussed that any place that has employees must comply.  She further discussed that only bar applied for variance when the Clean Air Act first went into affect and variances need to be reapplied for annually and that establishment never reapplied.  Ms. Gailor expressed that there are no establishments in Cortland County that have a variance for this.  Chairman Brown inquired about why the Pre K numbers are down on the revenue report.  Ms. Gailor explained that the State is often behind in payments.  Mr. Schrader explained and discussed the prospective rates for the Rackers Center for 2005 and added that they have just been received.  He further discussed the program as a whole.  Ms. Gailor explained that the County must have this program and it does not necessarily need to be part of the Health Department but the county must have the program. 

Ms. Gailor reported that there is no one on the waiting list for Early Intervention or Pre K.                 

Mr. Williams made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Ms. Price.  Mr. Clark adjourned the meeting at 8:24 a.m.

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