Minutes - 04-16-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

summarized the outcomes as listed in the report. He noted that changes need to be made in how the County bills Medicaid far services because Medicaid denials account far about $20,000 lost income each year. The plan calls for an additional billing support staff for both clinical sites. Sharon E. Van Horn summarized the childhood immunization-tracking portion of the presentation. She said that the County is not even close to meeting state standards fora "clean" database. The County does not know what the County's immunization status is far children under the age of 5. The report recommends an increase in the number of months from 10-12 for a public health nurse 1 position. She talked about services to limited English proficient residents and how the Health Department is handling the Asians and Hispanic/Latinos population. They are asking for afull-time medical interpreter. Dr. Jonathan Klein said that the total direct medical care cost of coronary heart disease in 1997 was estimate at $47.5 billion in the US and including lost productivity, the cost rises to $90.0 billion. He outlined why heart disease is the leading cause of death. The three primary preventable conditions are nutrition, fitness and tobacco use. The need as outlined in the report is to shift from screening to education. They want to change the environment to one which supports healthy lifestyles. He outlined the outcomes from a change in lifestyle. Dr. Janet Southerland talked about Dental Clinical Services for adults and children. The reasons for providing this mandated service is that many private dentists will not accept Medicaid, adult populations are even more severely limited than children. Also, a growing need among senior populations as identified by the Master Aging Plan and an unmet need among Medicaid children of up to 40% is not being met. The report proposes that positions be converted from time-limited to permanent and that the positions be transferred off of grant funding. Alice White talked about sheltering animals. She noted that the lease on the Orange County Animal Shelter will expire in 2006. There is a need to study and plan for a new shelter site and design. Commissioner Jacobs asked about the APS involvement with building a new shelter and Health Director Rosemary Summers said that the APS would be involved. However, who would run the shelter would need to be decided. The consultant would do a facility study and not an operational study. They have talked with the APS about the facility but not about funding a new shelter. Chair Halkiotis noted that there are a lot of groups in Orange County interested in animals and with developing an animal shelter. listed below: Rosemary Summers summed up the presentation by listing the long-range priorities which are • Improving Air Quality • Community Education for Animal Care • Media & Marketing program • Injury prevention program Expansion • Family Care Management Services • Provision of Clinical Primary Care Services • School-based health Centers • Jail Health • Increased Surveillance Mechanisms • Disaster Management for Animals Commissioner Carey made reference to emergency services preparation for catastrophes and how that may relate to the Health Department. Rosemary Summers said that one of the things they will be doing with EMS with a grant EMS received, is some tabletop exercises. They are in the process of planning far public health emergencies.