Approved 6/20/05

 

 

HUMAN SERVICES

June 6, 2005

Minutes

 

 

Members Present:         Curtis Hertel, Tina Weatherwax-Grant, Victor Celentino, Lisa Dedden, Dianne Holman, Mike Severino and Board Chairperson Mark Grebner

 

Members Absent:         None

 

Others Present:             John Neilsen, Bruce Bragg, Randy Marwede, Dr. Sienko, Stu Paterson and Laura Peterson

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Hertel at 7:03 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

 

Approval of the May 16, 2005 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. CELENTINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, TO APPROVE THE MAY 16 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Dedden

 

Additions to the Agenda:           None

 

Limited Public Comment:          None

 

MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

 

5.         Health Department

a.         Resolution to Authorize Adolescent Health – Child and Adolescent Health Center Grant Agreement with the Michigan Primary Care Association

b.         Resolution to Authorize an Extension of the Claims Processing Agreement with McLaren Health Advantage

c.         Resolution to Authorize Amendments to the Teen Parent Program Grant Agreement with the Michigan Department of Human Services

d.         Resolution to Authorize an Amendment to the Contract with the Michigan Department of Human Services to Place an Out-Stationed Worker in the Health Department Registration and Enrollment Unit

e.         Resolution to Authorize a Provider Agreement with the Livingston Health Plan

 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Dedden

 

MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Dedden

 

1.         Veterans Affairs – Appointments

 

Comm. Celentino stated both candidates were well qualified for appointments to the Veterans Affairs Committee; however, there is only one vacancy at this time.

 

MOVED BY COMM. CELENTINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, TO RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT OF GEORGE BACHMAN TO THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Dedden

 

2.         Military Order of the Purple Heart – Request for Discretionary Funding from Ingham County

 

Mr. Neilsen stated he spoke with Mr. Corts, Finance Officer, Chapter 37, Military Order of the Purple Heart, via telephone regarding the request for funding.  Mr. Corts was informed that this item would be on tonight’s agenda.  Mr. Neilsen explained that this is a discretionary decision on behalf of the Board of Commissioners as to whether the Board should appropriate the requested funds. 

 

Comm. Celentino stated he also spoke with Mr. Corts regarding this item approximately one month ago.  Mr. Corts’ request for funding is to help defray the expenses from the 70th Convention of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. 

 

MOVED BY COMM. CELENTINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SEVRINO, TO APPROPRIATE UP TO $2,000 TO THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART TO HELP DEFRAY THE COSTS OF THE 70TH CONVENTION OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART.

 

Mr. Neilsen stated his office could confirm the funding request and present a resolution to approve that amount at this Committee’s next meeting if that is the wish of this Committee.  Chairperson Hertel stated the Committee could pass the request tonight, and the requested amount could be verified prior to the next Board meeting. 

 

Comm. Holman asked if the Veterans Affairs Committee had any input on this matter.  She also asked if this request is similar to other convention requests.  Mr. Neilsen stated he could not remember any other such request in the past.  If this Committee does approve this request, it could be opening the door to future requests from other VA organizations.

 

Chairperson Grebner suggested that future requests of this nature be referred to the Veterans Affairs Committee for their consideration.  Mr. Marwede stated there are approximately 12 other congressionally chartered organizations of this nature.

 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Dedden

 

3.         Ingham County MSU Extension/Youth Violence Prevention Coalition – Resolution to Authorize Ingham County MSU Extension to Subcontract with Human Ecology Management/Dr. Carl Taylor on Behalf of the City of Lansing/Ingham County Youth Violence Prevention Coalition

 

MOVED BY COMM. CELENTINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SEVERINO, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE INGHAM COUNTY MSU EXTENSION TO SUBCONTRACT WITH HUMAN ECOLOGY MANAGEMENT/DR. CARL TAYLOR ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LANSING/INGHAM COUNTY YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION COALITION.

 

Mr.  Neilsen stated a technical change should be made to the third WHEREAS paragraph in the Resolution.  “Michigan Family Independence Agency (MFIA)” should be changed to “Department of Human Services.”

 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Dedden

 

4.         Ingham Health Plan Board – Report from the IHP Board, Stu Paterson, President

 

Mr. Paterson distributed printed copies of his power-point presentation to the Committee for their review.  The presentation covered four areas:  History of Ingham Health Plan Corporation, General Structure of the Board of Directors, Budget and Enrollment and Health plan programs.  Mr. Paterson reviewed each of these categories. 

 

(Comm. Dedden arrived at 7:18 p.m.)

 

Mr. Paterson explained that the Ingham County Advantage program is a Small Employer Subsidy Plan.    The Capital Area Prescription Program (CAP) is a prescription discount card.  There are challenges to the County Advantage Program.  These challenges include:

·        Small business owners are difficult to reach and persuade to participate in the program.

·        Small business owners are more like consumers than classic business to business decision makers.

·        Marketing environment is difficult.

·        Many may already have discarded the notion that health insurance is affordable for their business.

·        The number and dispersion of the target audience is daunting . . . 6,000 potential businesses.

 

 

Growth in the program has been very slow since last June.  Approximately 25 employees are enrolled in this program to date.  Some of the solutions to the above challenges are:

·        To reach employers, IHPC needs to use a broad based marketing campaign to create a general awareness and rely on experienced sales persons with a unique understanding of the micro-business market.

·        IHPC has solicited proposals to assist in the marketing and sales of Ingham County Advantage.

 

Chairperson Grebner suggested the IHPC associate the Ingham County Health Department with these programs when speaking to the public.  He stated people reject the IHP info because they believe it is just another solicitation among many others they receive.  Mr. Paterson stated businesses tend to make decisions over time as to whether they should enroll in a plan or not. 

 

Comm. Dedden suggested the County EDC be included in discussions regarding how to increase enrollment.  Comm. Weatherwax-Grant stated she has spoken to Ms. Pigg, EDC, regarding this matter.  Comm. Dedden stated she would give the EDC information on how to present the program information to businesses. 

 

Comm. Weatherwax-Grant stated she would like to hear some of the feed back received from businesses that believe they do not qualify for any of the IHP programs.  She further stated, the Board of Commissioners would be willing to entertain any ideas as to how it could assist in increasing enrollment. 

 

Mr. Paterson stated the Ingham Health Plan Board is considering the hiring of a marketing person who would work closely with the community.  Ms. Peterson stated it would be beneficial for the IHP Board to work with other area organizations in an effort to increase enrollment.  However, current staffing levels do not permit this task.

 

The Committee continued their discussion of this item.  Comm. Severino stated County employees are comfortable with using life insurance and cell phone company representatives.  This same approach may be beneficial to the IHP Board.  Ms. Peterson stated this effort would be pricey.  Comm. Severino stated he appreciated this concern.  She then stated any further suggestions would be appreciated. 

 

Ms. Peterson informed the Committee that the IHP Board has clarified its program information so that staff is better able to respond to phone calls from the public.

 

Announcements:           None

Public Comment:          None

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Debra Neff