MINUTES
NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL HEALTH DIRECTORS
Full Association Meeting
October 20, 1999
Friday Center
Chapel Hill, NC
CALL TO ORDER Ð
President Maggie Dollar called the meeting to order at 1:10 pm. She welcomed everyone and announced that todayÕs meeting was a full association meeting. (See Attachments, Attendance Roster.)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ð Wayne Raynor presented the minutes of the September 14, 1999 Executive Committee Meeting. Minutes were approved as submitted.
TREASURERÕS REPORT Ð Wayne Raynor presented the TreasurerÕs Report which was approved as presented. (See Attachments)
President Dollar called upon State Health Director Dr. Dennis McBride for an update from his office.
- Dr. McBride was very complimentary of the work done by the Public Health family in disaster stricken counties and announced that he would eventually be meeting with each director in the affected counties.
The Coordinator/Zone concept seemed to work pretty well during the recovery phase of disaster. We identified the 13 counties hardest hit and divided into zones with a zone coordinator to cut through the red tape. Communication was critical during this period. College students were deployed and were very successful at filling gaps in terms of being good listeners. We need to look at how we might more formally partner with academia to play a substantial role in such circumstances.
This crisis is our best bet for bringing Environmental Health back into Public Health.
Next summer we will have a statewide Ecology Conference. North Carolina needs to adopt some type of Ecology Plan.
Some discussion ensued relative to the coordination of assistance from the state and local level and documentation and accountability of the type of help rendered. A suggestion was made that encouraged State and Local Public Health to get together prior to next Hurricane season to formulate/standardize public information releases.
- Dennis Harrington Ð Continue to work with Division of Medical Assistance to unbundle the way we bill our services. Dennis introduced George Packingham, Clarence Irwin and Allan Gamble with DMA. Look for a smooth process.
Tim Greene expressed some concerns about reimbursement disparities between various providers. Allan Gamble stated that DMA can pay cost to public entities. Uniformity is coming to medical care through Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act. Local (State) codes will not be allowed. Codes will be nationalized.
- President Dollar called for the EDS presentation.
- Presenters were Jan Carter and Betty McLamb
EDS can provide:
- Education/Training
- Onsite visits (mini workshops, analyze claims)
- Bulletins (monthly)
- Telephone support (automated voice response, 800 numbers 8:00am Ð 4:30pm)
- Barbara Pullen-Smith introduced Mike MacLauchlin who provided an overview of a North Carolina Hispanic/Lantino population study. (See Attachments.)
- Terri Snowden of Sebury and Smith a Division of Marsh and McClennon Ð Medical malpractice coverage provider home based in Des Moines, Iowa. Terri is still based in Columbia. Terri informed the group that volunteers working in disaster affected counties automatically have medical liability coverage under current policies. Counties with jail health programs must be sure clinical personnel (nurseÕs and PAÕs) are covered under current policy.
COMMITTEE ACTION ITEMS
Bill Smith presented the slate officers for the year 2000. Motion passed. (See attachments.)
Bylaw changes recommendations Ð (See attachment.)
No Action Items.
- Environmental Health Committee
No Action Items.
No Action Items.
- Hospital Association Network
No Action Items.
- Managed Care & Reimbursement
No Action Items.
No Action Items.
No Action Items.
No Action Items.
- WomenÕs & ChildrenÕs Health
No Action Items
- Alliance for Public Health Agencies (NCAPHA)
No Action Items.
No Action Items.
- County Commissioners Association Network
No Action Items.
COMMITTEE INFORMATION/REPORTS
- Barry Bass Ð Executive Director Feasibility Study: ad hoc Committee Ð Provided an update on the AssociationÕs efforts to establish an Executive Directors position. Proposal recommends 40% support by the NCAPHA and 60% by NCALHD. Funds are available to support Executive Director proposal in 2000. Chris Szwagiel, President/Secretary Treasurer of NCAPHA spoke favorably of the two associations partnering in order to bring this effort to fruition after many years. MOTION: To move forward with establishing Executive Director position, create office for operating, build these expenses into CY2000 NCALHD budget. Motion passed.
- Wanda Sandele Ð Hepatitis B school data entry problems. Must ascertain all correct information on the "consent form". (See minutes.)
LIAISONS & OTHER REPORTS
- Jail Conference will be held at the Burlington, Ramada Inn on October 28, 1999.
- Melissa Beard of Prevent Blindness North Carolina distributed a Vision Resource Guide (See attachment.)
- Dr. Steve Cline distributed "Hurricane Floyd Illness and Injury Surveillance Data" (See attachments.)
- Office of Public Health Nursing Ð Joy Reed
- Hurricane Relief Ð over 220 nurses were deployed to provide assistance.
- Crosswalk Forum: The major issue identified related to the need to continue use of enhanced role nurses and to assure adequate reimbursement to health departments for their services. A related issue, the use of nurse (although not enhanced roles nurses) to provide TB services and the need to continue to support that cost-effective and efficient mechanism for addressing TB.
- Classification Issues: PHN IIs Ð The Personnel Committee of NCAPHNA has completed its collection of data related to classification of PHN II positions. They will now be meeting by conference call to try to formulate language to be submitted to Personnel staff to hopefully change and clarify the job specifications for those positions.
- Medical Director Conference Calls Ð For three months I hosted monthly conference calls for full-time medical directors in local health departments to discuss issues of common concern. Input from the medical director themselves resulted in these being scheduled for the third Tuesday from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. Given the lack of response in August, I am wondering if there is a continued need for this activity and , if so, with what frequency?
- Recruitment of Consultant Ð I am currently recruiting for two consultant positions.
Announcements
- Anne Dellinger announced her retirement from the Institute of Government effective October 31, 1999. The association extended itÕs appreciation for her many years of service to NCALHD.
- Motion by Barry Bass for a letter to Mike Smith from the Association officially extending our appreciation for the many years of valued service to NCALHD by Anne.
- President Dollar thanked Danny Staley for getting our retired Health Directors to Asheville. Received a letter from Bill Mashburn also thanking Danny. (See attachment.)
- President Dollar reminded everyone to look for their invitation for open house to the Rowan County Department of Public Health.
Announcements Continued
- President Dollar requested if someone would like to attend the Medical Review of North Carolina luncheon meeting from 1:00pm - 3:30pm at the Research Triangle Park, Holiday Inn on Sunday afternoon. This is their annual meeting and Senator John Edwards will be there to discuss current Health Legislation.
- President Dollar stated that we still need someone from our association to represent us on the North Carolina Coalition on Donations.
- President Dollar was asked to serve on new Institute for Public Health advisory board, Chapel Hill.
- President Dollar stated that we will be representing the Association next year on the County Commissioners Association through our Human Resources Steering Committee.
- President Dollar announced Mimi Cooper will be representing us on the Environmental Health Stakeholders Group and that Environmental Health is getting up and going with the Environmental Review Commission.
- President Dollar announced that the left over Acts or Bills from last year from Dr. McBride on getting the school nurse staffing up to 1-750 ratio was not acted on last year but will be a legislative item this year.
- President Dollar stated that a question had been asked in regards to the flooding if the State Lab were ever closed down are there other resources that could do rabies testing, well testing, etc. At this time the answer is no. This will be referred to one of our committees to look and see what, if any, alternatives are available.
- President Dollar announced that we will try to meet in association with the County Commissioners Association next year.
- President Dollar announced that the flyer "missing teen" is a legal issue that you canÕt give out medical information about the patient. New York law states that you can let someone know that a minor has an appointment in their clinic.
Meeting adjourned at 4:40 pm.
Respectfully Submitted by,
- Wayne Raynor
Secretary/Treasurer