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so P'iINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COP9MISSIONERS JANUZ~RY 2 5 , 19 7 7 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in special session on Tuesday, January 25, 1977, at 7:30 p.m., in the Commissioners' Reom of the Courthouse in Hillsborough. Members persent were Chairman Richard Whitted, Commissioners Norman Gustaveson, Jan Pinney, Norman taalker, and Donald Willhoit. Others present were S. M. Gattis, County Manager, Neal Evans, Finance Officer, and Tom Johnson, Director of the Southcentral Office of the Division of Health Services at Fayetteville, N. C. Chairman Glhitted stated that the the January 10th meeting, the Board of Commissioners had scheduled a meeting with Mr. Johnson to discuss specific programs and the impact on these programs should Orange County decide to withdraw from the health district. Mr. Whitted introduced Mr. Johnson, who stated that he had reviewed major programs in the district which received categorical State ar Federal funds through the Division of Health Services. He stated that there was currently $31,382 of chronic disease funds coming into the District Health Department. Services being provided with these funds are glaucoma testings and multiphasing screening provided by Ferson County. Lee and Chatham Counties have glaucoma testings with Chatham County providing a cancer detection program in Siler City. Orange County has glaucoma testings and multiphasing screening and these programs are supported through the general district funds rather than through categorical grant funds. Mr. Johnson stated that the program manager for chronic diseases had indicated that an effort would be made if there is a change in the district to continue funding the staff which is now being funded, therefore, in regard to chronic dis- ease funds in Orange County, the majority of funds would go to the district instead of Orange County. Tn the area of Family Planning, Orange, Chatham and Lee Counties are receiving a grant Pram the Division of Health Services in the amount of $68,209. Mr. Johnson estimated that Orange County received approxi- mately $26,000 of these funds. He added that Person County is currently receiving $32,000 from Region K and Caswell County, though not receiving such funds, is eligible. In the Home Health Agencies, Orange County, Person and Chatham Counties receive $48,000 in fees. These counties operate as independent county agencies so there would be no effect should there be a split, except far some arrangement for the continued servide of a physical therapist. He added that fees were collected on the basis of services rendered, so the funding level would remain the same. Mr. Johnson stated that the largest grant coming into the District Health Department is the Maternal and Child Health Fund which amounted to $132,610 far this year. Funds are distributed statewide based on a formula. Should Orange County withdraw from the district, this formula would be reapplied to the district and to Orange County. A redistribu- tion would result in Orange County getting 25.7 percent oz" the original funds. Based on the existing personnel being funded by Maternal/Child Health in the district, Orange County could expect an increase of 10 per- cent or $13,000 and a like decrease for the district. He stated there were $27,433 School Health Funds which are allocated, on a County by county basis. He spoke of a Hypertension Program in Lee County which would not be affected. Mr. Johnson stated that any change in the District Health Department would not result in the sacrifice of services or any. loss in State or Federal funds needed to provide those services. In general, he added that Orange County would neither earn or lose funds by withdrawing from the district. Commissioner tdillhoit asked how is funding determined for specific programs such as the Hypertension Program in Lee County. Mr. Johnson stated that decisions axe made by the State Project DRanagers based on a variety of factors such as level of need, population, existing services, etc.