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INFORMATION ITEM <br /> - N� ��U0T^� <br /> ������/ <br /> �E AL-7"'11,41,1 D E 11/,/,"/4','�),�,R rMUJ/17 <br /> /mP/n,mg h*a4m, /nspmmg changec, <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> To: Bonnie Hammers|ey. Orange County Manager <br /> Orange County Board of County Commissioners <br /> From: Colleen Brid0er. Orange County Health Director <br /> Date: November 11. 2O15 <br /> Re: Men's health pilot <br /> In response to a request from the Board of County Commissioners during the budget process, Health <br /> Department staff has been working on an assessment of access to primary care services for low-income men <br /> without insurance. The results of this assessment were shared with the Board of Health at their meeting in <br /> October. |n brief, vve found that there are approximately 2.00O uninsured men living in Northern Orange <br /> County and that 8% of men surveyed during the County's Community Health Assessment indicated difficulty <br /> accessing medical services. The Health Department currently has neither the capacity (staffing or space) nor <br /> the expertise to serve this population for primary care services. Also, vve know from research as well as <br /> experience that men typically access care much later than women do, resulting in fewer wellness visits, and <br /> more disease management/crisis visits. This makes itdifficult to estimate how many men will take advantage <br /> of expanded access to primary care. There is currently one safety-net primary care provider in Southern <br /> Orange County (Piedmont Health Services). Starting in January they will expand their services from 15 exam <br /> rooms in Carrboro and add 9 additional exam rooms in Chapel Hill (near Timberlyne). <br /> As such, staff recommended that the Health Department conduct a pilot project toeupandaooessb» primary <br /> care servioes, for men in the northern half ofthe oounb/, by contracting with an existing primary care provider <br /> to better determine the need for these services. <br /> Specifics of this pilot include: <br /> * <br /> Contracting with UNC Physicians Network in Hillsborough for a 6 month pilot <br /> * <br /> Limiting the number of visits to2OO <br /> * <br /> Limiting the total cost of the pilot to $30.000 with billing done per the Medicaid rate <br /> * <br /> Requiring use of the Health Department's sliding fee scale to determine qualification for participation <br /> * <br /> Requiring that all patients seen under this agreement not be existing patients of the practice <br /> * <br /> Requiring that all patients seen under this agreement who need specialist care or hospitalization be <br /> referred to other sources of charity care such as UNC Hospital <br /> Once this pilot is complete we'll have better information to determine the exact number of men who need this <br /> care, the types of visits/medical issues for which these men are seen and if a permanent expansion of Health <br /> Department staff, space and expertise is needed tomeet these needs orifa less costly solution can befound. <br /> | will share the results of this pilot as part of the budget process inJune. |n the meantime, please let meknow <br /> if you have any questions orconcerns. <br /> 9119 24524D0 )�, 3QO West Tryon Street )° Hillsborough, NC27278 * oramgecoemtync.guv <br />