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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH January 29, 1998 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 4 January 29, 1998 HEALTH CHECK PROGRAM INFORMATION PRESENTED BY ROSEMARY SUMMERS The health department had been granted a waiver to receive Medicaid reimbursement for the Health Check Program services. That waiver will disappear on July 1, 1998 and will not be renewed. Dr. Bruton, who is one of the driving forces behind this change, believes in providing each child a primary care home that will provide a full range of services. His message to health departments is, unless you can provide primary care services for these children, they will need to find a primary home. The health department can become an ACCESS provider by qualifying as a primary care provider. We meet all ACCESS requirements except for three. They are: • 24 hour coverage for patients • Physicians must have admitting privileges to hospitals in the area • You must have a 30 hour practice The first two concerns can be fixed with a contract for physician service for 24-hour coverage. Dr. Bruton briefly talked about a new insurance program that will be going forward to the legislature called Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This is an insurance plan for children who don’t qualify for Medicaid, but are between Medicaid and 200% of the poverty level. The estimate in North Carolina is 71,000 children in that category. Rosemary Summers and Eileen Kugler are holding an exploratory meeting with Family Medicine to talk about the possibilities of a contract expansion. This meeting is exploratory only. The Board requested the number of clients served through pediatric health check and the financial implications for the health department. 7. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES REVIEW BY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, PRESENTED BY MARGARET BROWN Goals and objectives are to be presented to the Board of County Commissioners on February 10, 1998. We need to decide tonight whether we want to let these stand, add new ones or update these in any way. The first listed are the Healthy Carolinians goals and objectives which are still being reworked. Cornelia Ramsey and Beverly Foster met today to put together the working group report on preventive services. The objective is to develop strategies for promoting healthy lifestyles to improve morbidity and mortality in the areas of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. The other two groups are also in the final initial stages. One goal of the Interim Health Director is to combine the Healthy Carolinians and CBPH processes into a single community-based approach. There will be pieces that don’t overlap as communities choose to work on different priorities. There needs to be more linkage both within our department as well as those externally. Another Board-adopted goal is the development of a crisis preparedness plan for a variety of public health emergencies. Mr. Reimer contacted a consultant who indicated she would be available to work with Health Department staff to create a plan after the first of January, 1998. Rosemary Summers still needs to contact her as to specific availability. The motion to delay report to the Board of County Commissioners pending a Healthy Carolinians Steering Committee meeting was made by Margaret Brown, seconded by Beverly Foster and carried without dissent. A motion was made by Brenda Crowder-Gaines and seconded by Barbara Chavious to adjourn the meeting. The next regular Board of Health meeting will be held February 26, 1998 at OWASA in Carrboro, N.C. Respectfully submitted, Rosemary L. Summers, MPH, DrPH Interim Health Director RLS:plb