Agenda - 04-11-2000-3 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 11, 2000 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: NC Health Choice Coordinator Position--Conversion from Time Limited to Permanent Status DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): None Marti Pryor-Cook, Director Ext. 2802 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-$1$1 Chapel Hill 96$-4501 Durham 6$$-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: Ta consider converting the existing time limited Health Choice Coordinator position to a regular permanent position. BACKGROUND: The Health Choice Coordinator position currently is vacant. It is important that this position be filled as soon as possible to insure that children continue to get enrolled and re-enrolled in the program on a timely basis. The implication of not filling this position is that many eligible children will not be enrolled nor re-enrolled in the Health Choice program in a timely manner. They will also not have the resources to secure non-emergency health care services. Since the position is presently time limited through July 2000, it is difficult to recruit and fill this position. Therefore, the Boazd of Commissioners is asked to approve converting the position from a time-limited status to a permanent status. In 1998, the NC General Assembly approved state funding to draw down federal dollars to provide health insurance for children up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. A local Planning Committee, representing over 24 agencies and organizations, guided the development of the Health Choice program in the Orange County. The Committee recommended that the program be staffed with afull- time permanent case manager and atime-limited Coordinator. This level of staffing was recommended as a pilot initiative to provide staff an opportunity to determine the number of children eligible for the program, the requirements necessary to assist children to remain insured, and the resources needed to maintain the program. Since implementation in November 1998, Orange County DSS has enrolled 590 children in Health Choice. During this same period, approximately 650 additional children have been certified and enrolled in the Medicaid program. This means that over 1200 new children are now able to visit a health care provider and receive needed health services in Orange County. Applications are taken at various sites in the County, including DSS and the Health Department.