Minutes - 19760921 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Chairman referred to Item 4: Representatives of the Orange County Medical Foundation will request the Orange County Board of Commissioners make a contribution to assist this organization in its efforts to construct a medical facility. Chairman Garrett recognized Moreland Claytor, Rev. William Richardson, Edmund Latta, Clarence Jones, Rev. Charles Hackett and Quentin Patterson, members of the Orange County Medical Foundation's Board. Rev. Charles Hackett spoke of the advantages of the family medical practice plan and stated that the plan deserved the support of the County. Quentin Patterson stated that the Medical Foundation will be for use by all citizens of Orange County and not just for the citizens of Northern Orange. Rev. Richardson spoke of the urgent need for the medical facility. Clarence Jones, Chairman of the Fund Raising Campaign, stated that the need in Orange County for medical facilities was great. He spoke of the problems that the Medical Foundation Board had encountered and stated that now there seemed to be a glimmer of hope. The Berard felt the people of the area were behind them. Mr. Jones reminded the Board of the donation the Town of Hillsborough had made to the Foundation, and stated that he appealed to the Commissioners as representatives who handled the tax funds of everyone in Orange County, including those who live in Chapel Hill. Mr. Jones requested of the Board of Commis- sioners a donation of between $10,000 and $15,000. He stated if the Foundation could receive this amount, they would be on firm ground to let the contract and the Foundation would be in business within twelve months. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that he had a concern regarding the County subsidizing such kinds of private populations. He stated that from discussion all the objectives, in term of defining the concerns for health care, really evolved around the Foundation's operation of the building, that the actual delivery of these services was not a part of the .responsibility of the Foundation, but was the traditional fee for service as programmed. He stated that his concern from a governmental viewpoint was that we have a multiplicity of kinds of needs when it comes to health care. He asked as a Foundation, are you open to have a multiplicity of kinds of health care? Not only a fee for service health care, but perhaps a clinic which Orange-Chatham Comprehensive Health Service might operate, or District Health Service. So that we might have within one health center, not only a fee for service, but also a comprehensive health care for low income persons. Discussion ensued. The Board members stated that they were not in a position to answer Commissioner Gustaveson's question, that this would have to be an agreement to be worked out with physicians practic- ing within the clinic, unless these were services provided through medi- care or medicaid. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that public officials must be con- cerned about the multiplicity of the systems of the delivery of health care. He stated "We have got to make sure that as we make decisions now, about a particular kind of health agency, that it will fit in and compliment other kinds of delivery systems." Commissioner Walker stated that he would be in favor of giving the Foundation a $10,000 donation and that he felt the Board should be a part of the Foundation by helping get the Foundation "off the ground." Further discussion. ensued. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that he was concerned about not putting County money into something that might close the door to a much broader comprehensive health plan in northern Orange. Chairman Garrett stated that she felt Mr. Gustaveson's question was a legitimate one and a question that she had asked many times,, however, no one has been able to answer. Commissioner Pinney stated that a question in his mind was if a dona- ~ion from the County would be legal.