Minutes 02-01-2022 Virtual Business Meeting

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19 Commissioner Hamilton said it would be helpful to get an idea from WakeBrook on how many beds they have, the number they serve, etc. Caitlin Fenhagen said that while they do not have those numbers with them tonight, they have had conversations with other model facilities and received a lot of information. She said that further data analysis is needed to determine needs for Orange County specifically. She said the facility in Orange County will be smaller than the ones in Wake and Buncombe counties. Commissioner Hamilton said when the numbers are available, she would like to see the estimated costs for building the facility. She said that she sees the need for a crisis facility in Orange County. Commissioner Fowler said she has been on the Behavioral Health Task Force and agrees that the facility is needed. She said there is also a need for warm handoffs and that she is happy to see inclusion of outpatient services. She said that providers are also needed and she is not sure how to address that issue. She asked if patients are charged for services at WakeBrook like any other medical facility and if they accept insurance. She asked if patients do not have insurance how their services are paid for. She asked if the county pays into operations of the facility. She asked if UNC has made any commitments to Orange County for operational services and if not, are there any other providers that the County is considering. Travis Myren said they formally reached out to UNC Health Care two weeks ago and should receive a response soon about their interest. He said that Alliance Health has been involved in all task force meetings but he does not know of any funding commitment they might be able to make but they are certainly at the table. He said that in terms of operating costs, they want to be sure the facility can accept all forms of payment from private insurance to Medicaid or any funds that Alliance Health administers. Tony Marimpietri said a typical model would include the operator of the facility does billing and where possible, through insurance. He said the county would also pay for operational expenses and Alliance Health would pay for the uninsured. He said this would allow the facility to accept all patients and payers. Commissioner Greene thanked the task force for their work and thoughtful planning. She said that she was on the simulated mapping and that this is more needed than ever. She said that even though opioid settlement money is not in hand yet, it is not too soon to ask questions to the NC Department of Justice on how they can determine exactly how much of this need is attributed to opioid use disorders. She said that would be an approved use of the facility. Caitlin Fenhagen said the Buncombe County facility got a large grant from NC Department of Health and Human Services for their facility. She said there are also capital campaigns and private funders who may be interested. She said that Buncombe facility had multiple streams of funding to create what they have now. She said they are not just looking at county resources. Commissioner Richards said this is her first-time seeing details about this facility. She said she is really glad to see the expansion for minors to include ages 4-17. She said that almost every parent she knows is searching for support at one point or another for their children. She asked if UNC Hospital or University was part of the stakeholder group. Tony Marimpietri said it was UNC Hospitals emergency department since it is frequently loaded with behavioral health cases. He said that one of the goals of the facility is to help with the emergency department capacity. He said it was not the university. Commissioner Richards said that anything the county does usually involved students and asked if it was being looked at as a service to the university in terms of funding and partnership. She asked if the cost savings review was a cost avoidance model and how the savings are being factored.