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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: September 6, 2007 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 4-e <br />SUBJECT: Contract Renewal Between NC Dept of Insurance and Orange County for <br />Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) <br />DEPARTMENT: Aging PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Contract Jerry Passmore 245-2008 <br />NC Dept of Insurance SHIIP Brochure Katherine Leith 968-2082 <br />PURPOSE: To consider a contract renewal to receive $5,000 from the NC Department of <br />Insurance for the Seniors'. Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) administered by the <br />Department on Aging for the period July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008. <br />BACKGROUND: SHIIP volunteers are an independent source for accurate information about <br />insurance issues. Since 1987, the NC Department of Insurance has partnered with the <br />Department on Aging to assist Orange County residents with health insurance questions and <br />concerns without a sales motive. Since 1997, the Orange County volunteers and Coordinator <br />have won a combined 11 statewide awards for program excellence. With the passing of the <br />federal Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, a multitude of prescription plans and health care <br />plans were created. All of these are very confusing to Medicare beneficiaries. SHIIP was <br />mandated by the federal government to educate beneficiaries about these changes and review <br />options. In response to the dramatic increase in requests for assistance, the Department of <br />Insurance began in fiscal year 2006 to provide mini-grants to the SHIIP programs for recognition <br />of the volunteers and reimbursement of expenses. Last fiscal year, more than 700 individuals <br />received help from SHIIP Coordinator Katherine Leith, and 12 volunteers. This number is likely <br />to grow in Orange County with a minimum of 600 persons turning 65 each year. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: This fiscal year, the Department of Insurance has made available $5,000 <br />for support of the SHIIP program in Orange County. No matching funds are required from <br />Orange County. These funds, combined with $2,300 carried forward from last fiscal year, will be <br />used to purchase two laptop computers for the SHIIP volunteers, employ two temporary part <br />time people to be site coordinators for the required Medicare counseling sessions each Tuesday <br />between October 2007 and March 2008, and to employ another part-time temporary person to <br />assist with SHIIP reporting. Funds will also be used to sponsor a recognition luncheon for the <br />SHIIP volunteers, and to purchase office and program supplies. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the contract and <br />authorize the County Manager to sign the contract between NC Department of Insurance and <br />Orange County for support of the SHIIP program.