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MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES <br />March 20, 2023 <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br />THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: March 20, 2023 at <br />Hillsborough Commons. <br /> <br />BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Oscar Fleming, Jane Garrett, Pat Garavaglia, Ann <br />Wilkerson, and Jamezetta Bedford. <br /> <br />GUEST: None <br /> <br />BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS ABSENT: None <br /> <br />STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Social Services Director; Crystal Mitchell, Human Services Manager; and <br />Brittany Mann, Social Work Program Manager. <br /> <br />I. Call to Order and Introductions <br /> <br />DSS Chair, Pat Garavaglia, called the meeting to order at 4:06 pm. <br /> <br />II. Board Comments <br /> <br />None. <br /> <br />III. Public Comments <br /> <br />None. <br /> <br />IV. Agenda Changes <br /> <br />None. <br /> <br />V. Action Items <br /> <br />On a motion by Ann Wilkerson, the Board approved the minutes of February 20, 2023. Jane Garrett <br />seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. <br /> <br />VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision <br /> <br />1. Medicaid Updates <br /> <br />Nancy Coston, Director, provided the Board with Medicaid updates. She explained there must be an <br />approved state budget before Medicaid Expansion can occur. She stated the agency and is planning <br />for the Expansion. Oscar Fleming asked if there was any hope for help from the State for counties <br />with the Expansion. Director Coston shared there is a legislative bill that has $50 million to help DSS <br />agencies staff. The Governor has put $100 million in his budget proposal for this. There is an <br />assumption from legislators they will need to allocate money to help DSS agencies prepare. Director <br />Coston also shared other ways being considered to assist with the workload including North <br />Carolina having the ability to choose to have the Marketplace complete the eligibility process; it <br />would then get downloaded to DSS indicating the applicant is eligible. <br />Director Coston shared there was a legal action filed against the state and a county about not being <br />able to get a live person through the DSS phone system in regards to Medicaid. The settlement from <br />the lawsuit has requirements for all DSS agencies that we do not currently have. DSS is working <br />with County IT and leadership about this. This includes making sure we have tracking to prove we