President Tim Green welcomed the members of the association and guests to the October meeting at 9:00am. Thirteen executive committee members were present (see attachments for attendance roster) which constitutes a quorum.
Wayne Raynor of Harnett County provided fellowship.
The minutes of the October meeting were posted on the web site, ncalhd.org, and approved as posted.
MiMi Cooper presented the treasurer's report with balances as of November 9, 2001. Account balances were as follows:
(See attachments for full treasurer's report).
Dues are still outstanding for 4 health departments.
Leah Devlin
Leah reminded the group that there was good state support for local health departments from the Secretary's office on bioterrorism issues. There are several bills in the legislature that strengthen our position in case of a problem. Leah also announce that Bruce Parsons has taken the position of acting section chief of Health Promotion Section. Leah also prepared us that there is at a minimum a 4% budget cut in the current year state budget but she suspects there will be more. The Legacy budget revision has finally been approved. Deborah Rowe told the group that the Raleigh News and Observer had selected Leah as the Tar Heel of the week. Others continued with the following pressing issues update.
Chris Hoke
Steve Cline (see attachments for Steve's handouts)
Steve told the group about building the local surveillance system for bioterrorism. The plan is to have seven surveillance teams to work with the seven emergency response teams that are already in existence. There will also be a State Bioterrorism Team. There will also be considerable effort to build the communication systems such as the health alert network and the Electronic Disease Surveillance System. This new proposal also includes building the capacity of the State laboratory and in four regional labs. The funds to cover these initiatives come from the State's rainy day fund. These are one-time allocations that will cover the biennium. The implementation team would like a local health director to serve. Tim will appoint someone.
Dennis Harrington
Dennis met with Malcolm Blalock and Rodney Long at DEH about list serve issues. Dennis reminded us that the list serve we all use so heavily was created and is maintained by DEH and we owe them a great deal of thanks. But through some method, folks are getting to this list serve and sending sales pitches and other inappropriate things. Malcolm said they would be sending us some information on how to improve the privacy of our list. Dennis reminded us that the cost study process has started. He will contact us soon with additional information.
Bill told the group of the problems Dr. Okun was having with her contract renewal, which appears to be the result of political pressure from the Pork Producers. The work that Dr. Okun did for the NCALHD was at our request and was very beneficial. A resolution was presented and after discussion and some modifications a motion was made by George Bond to send the resolution to the University Provost. A second was added by John Morrow and the motion passed unanimously.
Carmine reminded the group of trainings across the state in December. Today is Catherine Moon's last day at the Association due to cut backs in funding.
The institute has issues a bulletin on responding to biological threats. Jill sent it out on the list serve and also mailed a copy to each health director. She also reminded us that training on the nuts and bolts of HIPAA would be held in late May.
The North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness (www.sph.unc.edu/nccphp) . has been asked to develop a bioterrorism hotline. The same group that operates the AIDS line will do this. There will be an advertisement campaign later. The Center is also getting into web casting. They have done several on anthrax. Penny distributed to all health directors present a copy of a grand rounds video and a wall chart on bioterrorisn agents
Joy asked the group for a show of hands of how many health departments might have a need in the future for either an adult or geriatric nurse practitioner. Several health departments expressed interest in the adult NP. (see attachments for full copy of Joy's report)
The North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness (www.sph.unc.edu/nccphp) . has been asked to develop a bioterrorism hotline. The same group that operates the AIDS line will do this. There will be an advertisement campaign later. The Center is also getting into web casting. They have done several on anthrax. Penny distributed to all health directors present a copy of a grand rounds video and a wall chart on bioterrorisn agents
Mary reported to the group that the community assessment process was being modernized. It will be based on outcomes that enable visibility, coordination, resource documentation, addresses core functions, and assures adequately trained staff. It will move to a four-year cycle, become a multi-agency effort and be driven by the primary data. During interim years we will prepare a State of the County report. Of course there is no funding for this yet. Let Mary know if you have problems or concerns with this concept.
Nominations and By Laws -- Tom Bridges
There is a vacancy in the region where Keith Patton served due to the fact that Keith has moved to MTW. Tom made a motion to appoint Louis Latour to fill that unexpired term. Don Yousey provided a second. The motion passed unanimously. Tom also reminded us that Bruce Parsons is no longer in region IV. Tom made a motion to appoint Ray Rabe to fill that unexpired term. A second was provided by Wayne Raynor and the motion passed unanimously.
Technology -- Leonard Wood
Motion: That NCALHD approve the following statements as the foundation for working with DPH to provide HIPAA support for LHD's:
- The Division is committed to provide additional resources through funding for contract and operating expenses up to $40,000 for the balance of this fiscal year (December 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002) and to maintain, within available resources, funding from July 1, 2001 through December 30, 2002 up to $30,000.
- The Division is committed to provide enhanced technical assistance for local health departments to support their individual efforts toward HIPAA compliance. Each unit of government is responsible for ultimately taking the actions needed to obtain compliance with the HIPAA regulations.
- Local Health Services would be the section within DPH to supervise the staff person or the contract employee dependent on the route mutually agreed to by DPH and NCALHD.
- The NCALHD's would be expected to provide oversight and support to this effort via a subcommittee within the Technology committee to assure the commitment and support form local employees to achieve the desired outcome (HIPAA compliance) for the LHD's.
- LHS would expect the subcommittee to provide input into the hiring of the person best suited to the job based on former work experience, HIPAA knowledge, and strong understanding of the Local PH system within NC.
- It is the expectation of the Division that the NCALHD's resources committed in the October meeting to hiring a HIPAA coordinator would be earmarked for HIPAA efforts and be available to this HIPAA coordinator through the technology committee for special efforts and projects identified and supported by the HIPAA subcommittee of the technology committee.
Discussion: The association is working with DPH to develop this plan and also continuing work with the IOG. There is also a detailed job description coming. Jerry Parks emphasized that this is to help locals get ready, not the State. Motion passed unanimously. Bill Smith suggested that we take a percentage of the Medicaid maximization money before it is distributed to enhance this effort even more. Tim will pursue this with Dennis Harrington.
Women and Children's Health -- Wanda Sandele
Motion: that the association accept the WCH agreement addenda as reviewed and revised by the liaison committee.
Motion passed unanimously.
Epidemiology -- John Morrow
Motion: In light of recent bioterrorism attacks in the United States and in order to better prepare our public health system to respond quickly to similar events in North Carolina, the NCALHD urges all local health directors to immediately provide to the State's Epi Division emergency contact information which will allow for communications on a 24 hour/ 7 day a week basis. John stated that the epi committee understands director's concerns about confidentiality but the information we will be providing will be protected and available only through Epi.
Motion passed unanimously.
Epidemiology -- John Morrow
There will be 33 flu reporting stations this year plus the 10 university sites that report. Through the concerns of the Nurse Administrators association and others, Evelyn Foust reported to the group that Spectinomycin should be widely available soon. This drug can be used for pregnant women with documented cephalosporin allergy and in persons with documented cephalosporin allergies who acquired gonorrhea in geographic areas where fluoroquinolone-resistent gonorrhea is endemic (Far East Asia, Hawaii).
Women and Children's Health -- Wanda Sandele
Health Check conference is required for those who want to apply for a health check coordinator and do not already have access to one through DSS or Smart Start. Beginning April of 2002, varicella will be a required vaccine. WIC is in the process of doing vendor selection.
Technology/HIPAA Committee -- Ray Rabe
The technology committee is going to take another look at direct billing issues. They are also looking for a way to put health director's contact information on the web site but protect the information from the general public.
Technology/HIPAA Committee -- Ray Rabe
Health Alert Network funds are coming to enhance our capacity to be able to communicate with each other across the country.
Education and Awards -- Barry Blick
Nominations for the new award established by the committee this year, Public Health Partner are due to Barry by the end of the month.
Environmental Health -- Terry Pierce
The body-piercing bill has not passed yet. Mosquito control state funds information went out this past week. The EHS liability bill is floundering. It has to be attached to some bill that already exists and this has been difficult at this stage of the game. Sue Grayson is working on food safety/bioterrorism issues. The 4% budget cut that DHHS is experiencing also applies to DENR and to DEH. Expect that this will affect our aid to county money. Be on the look out for a bill from DEH for items ordered from them. If you recall, DEH informed local health director’s last year that they would not be able to continue to provide printed items free of cost. Our association decided that we would rather DEH continue to print these items and just charge us for the cost as we order. Jessica Miles in Public Water Supply is the contact person for questions concerning the arsenic standard proposed change. Her number is 919-715-3232. Bill Pate in Environmental Epi is also available to answer questions. His number is 919-715-6432.
Region II -- George Bond
George read a proposed resolution to send to Secretary Hooker-Buell concerning our confidence in Leah Devlin. (see attached resolution). Louis Latour made a motion to send the resolution and Elaine Russell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:15 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
MiMi Cooper
Secretary/Treasurer