MINUTES
NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL HEALTH DIRECTORS
Executive Committee Meeting
May 20, 1998
Hickory Inn Select
Hickory, North Carolina


CALL TO ORDER - President-Elect Maggie Dollar called the meeting to order and soon thereafter President Smith presided.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - The minutes of the April 21, 1998 Full Association Meeting were approved unanimously.

TREASURER'S REPORT - Tim Green

Mr. Green presented the Treasurer's Report along with proposed budget amendments in Revenue and Expense line items totalling $51,705. The more significant change occurred regarding the HealthQuest/Visioning contract involving approximately $30,000. (See Attachments, pp. 1-3). The proposed amendments were approved unanimously.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

President Smith commented on the resolution approved by the Association at the April meeting in reference to Chris Hoke. This was sent to Secretary Bruton with a carbon copy to Dr. Levine. Secretary Bruton has responded in agreement.

The NC Medical Society is now receiving nominations for the E.Harvey Estes, MD, Physician Community Service Award. The award is designed to provide recognition for the many and varied services rendered by physicians to their communities, apart from their practice of medicine. Nominations must be received by September1 and addressed to the NCMS Executive Committee, PO Box 27167, Raleigh, NC 27611. To request a nomination packet, contact Linda Carter at NCMS, 919-833-3836 or 800-722-1350; e-mail: lcarter@ncmedsoc.org.

Resolutions that our Association wishes to present for County CommissionersÕ consideration need to be voted on in June in order to meet their time frame. The County CommissionersÕ Association will meet in August in Charlotte.

ACTION ITEMS

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE - Mimi Cooper

Private well construction standards exist through Environmental Management Commission with authority to enforce with DWQ (Division of Water Quality).


This request for funding and delegation has been sent in with the division budget for several years but has never been a part of the governor's budget until this year.

The committee is asking the Association to support this change in a general manner. There are many details and issues to work out, and if the request survives to the final budget, we will dive into those but the committee was positive that this idea, as our motion states, has a long way to go to provide this essential public health initiative across the state.

Motion from Committee:

Recommend that the Association support statewide private well construction standards with delegated authority to be carried out by local health departments with state funding.

Motion was duly made and seconded to approve this motion as presented. The motion carried.

POLICY & PLANNING (LEGISLATIVE) - Maggie Dollar

Denise Stallings presented information relating to the Action Alert Ð May8, 1998, Health Insurance Program for Children and School-Based Health Centers (formerly Child Health Insurance Program -- CHIP). She encouraged health directors to write their legislators relative to legislation in Section 8 of the Insurance Program for Children which restricts reimbursement for medical services performed in school-based health centers. She cited lack of parental consent and focused on Family Planning as two of the most common misconceptions about school-based services. She emphasized that discontinuation of the school-based services would only increase the access-to-care problem in many communities. President Smith agreed we need to support the recommendation and he referred this issue to NCPHA to take the leadership role in discussion of this issue with legislators. (See Attachments, pp. 8-11.)

Carmine Rocco mentioned other legislative items such as House Bill 551 AIDS Prevention Funds which will be supported along with House Bill 344 Motor Vehicle Occupant Protection. The Public Health Authorities Act is to be supported with the recommendation to modify wording to include requiring a joint resolution from both Board of Health and County Commissioners to establish a Public Health Authority in a single county. (See Attachments, pp. 12-18.)

Debra Rowe mentioned the BC/BS Bill has already passed and also mentioned Healthy Carolinians at the legislature Wednesday, May27, 1998. She requested any Healthy Carolinians Task Force information that can be shared with the legislators on that day.

STATE & LOCAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE - Tom Bridges

The State & Local Relations Committee has not met since April22, 1998. Mr.Bridges shared information from two other important meetings he attended April22, 1998 and May13, 1998. (See Attachments, pp. 19-24.)


TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE - George Bond

Mr. Bond reported the counties will be getting a statewide survey to assess the kind of hardware and software being used and to determine what is compatible. He also said SIPS is developing a package of services to assist counties who do not have extensive computer systems and assess to identify services. SIPS will work with these counties concerning their needs and install equipment, software, etc. for a fee.

Mr. Bill Cox, Chief of Information Services for DHHS, has indicated he will work with health departments and the budget concerning RFP's to use the three million to develop an information system. He will report to committee June 7th or 8th. Ann Presnell is not interested in being considered in the RFP and will be phasing out. Mr.Cox also said the departments need office software to assist in running the departments that will allow the agencies to pull out the information they need. Each county has different needs. That system will be HSIS.

NOMINATING & BY-LAWS - Barry Bass

Expressed appreciation to those who attended the Vision Retreat last week. A follow-up meeting will be held June19, 1998 from 10:00a.m. until 2:00p.m. at the Albert Coates Building in Raleigh. Health directors are encouraged to participate in the work groups for the Turning Point grant process. For more information, contact Mary Bobbitt-Cook. (See Attachment, p. 25.)

EDUCATION AND AWARDS COMMITTEE - Wayne Raynor

The annual legal conference will be held October20-21, 1998 in Chapel Hill. The committee met with Anne Dellinger April21, 1998 to discuss topics and review evaluations from the 1997 conference.

Health Director of the Year Award -- The committee has not received any nominations to date. An e-mail reminder was sent in late April. Forms are available on NCALHD's web page and are due June1, 1998. If you need a form by FAX or mail, contact Chairman Wayne Raynor.

Retirement Clock -- Committee is holding one for Tom Johnson who retired from Henderson County April10, 1998.

Mr. Raynor encouraged everyone to complete and return the Spring Workshop evaluation forms to UNC.

EPIDEMIOLOGY COMMITTEE - Ray Rabe

A conference call was held. Individuals from the national level want to do a pilot project in North Carolina in selected local health departments, whereas when some individuals are in for counseling, they will be encouraged to call the national AIDS hotline. It was suggested a letter be written indicating those health departments that wish to participate in this pilot project can do so at their discretion. Mr.Rabe indicated he had reservations about this process because there could be inconsistent information, however, he indicated those counties that wish to participate can report to the Association about the process. (See Attachments, pp. 26-30.)

COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE - Curtis Holloman reporting for Elaine Russell

(See Attachments, pp. 32-33.)

NCPHA COMMITTEE - Debra Rowe

Debra Rowe made available nomination forms and information regarding the NCPHA Awards which are due June1, 1998. She encouraged health departments to participate in these nominations. She also mentioned the May 29th deadline for the Glaxo Wellcome Awards. Legislative Day is scheduled June9, 1998 at the North Raleigh Hilton. Everyone was encouraged to attend. The Public Health Association was provided a contribution of $10,000 from the Wyeth-Lederle Company for the Wood Endowment. (See Attachment, p. 31.)

Respectfully submitted,



Tim Green
Secretary/Treasurer