CALL TO ORDER Ð President Tom Bridges called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. This meeting was held via the "information highway" over the PH Training Network at various sites.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ð The minutes from the November meeting were approved as submitted.

TREASURERÕS REPORT Ð Jim Baluss presented the TreasurerÕs report through December 20, 2000. Account balances were as follows:

Checking-$12,772.25 Savings-$34.50 Money Market-$334.13 CD-$40,000.00

1. Tom stated there were no current "outgoing/incoming" Health Directors to report.
2. Howard CampbellÕs retirement and relocation to Virginia was announced.
3. Tom encouraged all members to respond to the joint NACHO-NCALHD Dues Invoice mailing.
4. Tom stated that he had been advised that a cut in the GovernorÕs budget in the amount of one million dollars for mosquito control was being considered. He called on Health Directors to contact the GovernorÕs office to express concern about the impact such a cut would have on local vector control programs.
5. Tom announced that the long anticipated convening of the Public Health Study Commission has been set for January 4, 2001. NCALHD will meet with Dr. McBride and DPH management team to coordinate a presentation at the initial meeting of the commission.
6. Tom then introduced and called on Karen Tomezack, DIRM/HIPPA Coordinator, who provided a very informative briefing on the major aspects of HIPPA. (NOTE: KarenÕs very informative slide presentation on PowerPoint will be made available through the "LHD" listserv on-line.) A consultant is being hired to provide technical assistance in the near future.
7. Sumara Adrian was then introduced. She provided a briefing on the Bioterrorism Response Planning Project. She reminded Health Directors that CDC/DOJ funding to states is contingent on the completion of the survey process those survey instruments having been sent out to local health departments in the last several months. These surveys need to be completed and returned. She stated that 22 counties have not responded. She is available for technical assistance to respondents who need it to complete the survey. Her phone number is (919) 715-2642. President Tom Bridges called on Regional Reps to monitor the status of completion of these very important surveys, and to consider convening regional workshops to get them completed.
8. Tom announced that several Health Directors had participated in meetings and discussions with Governor-Elect EasleyÕs transition team. He recognized George Bond, Kevin Watkins, and Ann Thomas, and thanked then for their representation of interests from the local public health perspective. George Bond stated the "take home message" from that dialogue was the recognition of fiscal constraints with state budget in the near term.

1. Dennis reported continued significant progress in the CPT/HSIS conversions. Billing claims processing is going much more smoothly. The 15% rejection rate is actually better that the "pre-CPT" rejection rate. Dennis again expressed profound gratitude for everyoneÕs hard work.
2. Encounter data is considered so unreliable that Medicaid cost reporting process is impossible at this time. Joy ReedÕs team is doing "Quality Assurance" clinic by clinic looking for patterns and trends in CPT/ICD-9 coding errors in local departments. This is expected to yield very beneficial information in technical assistance to local staff.
3. Dennis cautioned against spending a lot of time and effort reconciling the "157" reports due to the continued unreliability of some of the data.
4. Effective January 1, 2001, some Medicaid rates will be changing.
5. Dennis advised that "Medicaid advances" have gone out to requesting agencies. He advised that the advances would be "cleared/settled out" in future remittance advice prior to payments being made.
6. A reallocation of "Healthy Carolinians" funding is being announced through RFAs soon to be received for a one-time grant for interventions to reduce health disparities among minorities.
7. Dennis announced that the first meeting of the Public Health Study Commission would be held at 10:00 a.m., January 4, 2001, in the Legislative Building.
8. Actions have been taken, effective December 19, 2000, to assure that contracted programmatic funding payments will be made to local agencies. Consideration is being given to an alternative way for the State to make these payments in the future.

There were no action items brought forth from the committees.

Women & ChildrenÕs Health Ð No information items.

Epidemiology Ð No information items.

Managed Care & Reimbursement Ð No information items.

Chronic Disease/Dental Ð No information items.

Environmental Health Ð No information items.

Nominations & By-Laws Ð No information items.

Policy & Planning Ð Chair Tim Green reported a very favorable and attentive response to his presentation of NCALHD Goals 2001 to the NC Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) in their 2001 goal setting meeting recently.

State & Local Relations Ð Chair Wayne Raynor summarized the activities of this committee throughout this NCALHD year. He advised the group of the members for 2001. They are: Jim Baluss, Chair; Mimi Cooper; Barry Bass; and Dr. John Morrow. Local Provider Workgroup meetings with the DHHS secretary are expected to continue with the transition administration.

Education & Awards Ð No information items.

Technology Ð Marc Kolman reported on activities and goals of the "Public Health Enterprise Visioning Committee". They met on November 30, 2000, at the Office of Price Waterhouse CooperÕs. They set up an organizational process for next steps. The committee also established key dates for committee work; and developed a list of about 35 people to e-mail and invite to the January meeting. Ray Rabe spoke to differentiate the goals and mission of the HIPPA committee versus the visioning committee. These are two separate, but very much interrelated process-oriented working groups.

1. Bob Wood inquired of Tom Bridges if there has been a response from Dr. McBride on the December 4, 2000 letter expressing NCALHD concerns. Tom stated there has been no reply.
2. George Bond spoke to express disappointment and concern about the very short time frame to prepare an adequate NCALHD presentation to this Public Health Study Commission. There was much agreement with this sentiment. Tom and Dennis agreed to arrange a conference call to try to get a "game plan" together for the January 4^th meeting.
3. President Bridges then thanked the NCALHD officers, committee chairs, and all the members for their hard work and support during this year as President. He stated it was his distinct honor and pleasure to serve.
4. The next meeting will be held on January 10, 200, at 1:30 p.m. at the Hospital Association in Carry.

With no further business coming before the Executive Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jim Baluss, Secretary