Approved 12/4/06
HUMAN SERVICES
September 11, 2006
Minutes
Members Present: Mark Grebner, Rebecca Bahar-Cook, Curtis Hertel, Lisa Dedden, Andy Schor, Mike Severino and Board Chairperson Victor Celentino
Members Absent: None
Others Present: John Neilsen, Ed Dore, Bruce Bragg, Teri Morton, Jared Cypher, Randy Marwede, Susan O’Shea, Bob Sheehan, John Jacobs, Ron Uken, Randy Bell and others
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Grebner at 7:02 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.
Additions to the Agenda: None
Limited Public Comment: None
1. Budget Hearings
MOVED BY COMM. SCHOR, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SEVERINO, TO ACCEPT THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS:
b. Community Mental Health
c. Cooperative Extension
d. Department of Human Services
f. Medical Care Facility
h. Mid Michigan 2-1-1 Alliance
l. Veteran Affairs
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
a. Community Agency Appropriation
Comm. Schor informed the Committee that the South Side Community Center did not submit their funding application on time; therefore, they are not included on the current application list.
j. Transportation Millage
MOVED BY COMM. HERTEL, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SEVERINO, TO ACCEPT THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE COMMUNITYA GENCY APPROPRIATION AND FOR THE TRANSPORTATION MILLAGE. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
e. Health Department
g. Medical Examiner
Mr. Bragg stated the Health Department is pleased with the Controller’s Recommended Budget. The Recommended Budget continues the Department’s current services. Mr. Bragg then stated the Department and the Medical Examiner’s Office are requesting a number of positions be placed on the Z list for consideration.
Two of the positions are Patient Navigators within the Health Department. The third position is a half-time Medical Examiner Investigator within the Medical Examiner’s Office.
MOVED BY COMM. HERTEL, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHOR, TO ACCEPT THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Bragg explained the two Patient Navigator positions would be placed with two of the Health Department’s medical clinics. The Navigators would be Para-professionals with the same cultural demographics as the clinic areas. He further explained that many people within the clinics suffer from very expensive chronic illnesses. The Navigators would assist with theses cases. This is a new approach which has been successful across the Country. Funding for the two positions is approximately $36,000.
The Committee held a general discussion regarding the purpose of the Navigator positions. Mr. Bragg explained the Navigators would act as coaches to ensure that patients follow the precise treatment directions.
Comm. Severino asked what the Health Department would be doing regarding mental health services. Mr. Uken explained this issue would be addressed in the future if that is the decision of the Health Department. Mr. Bragg stated discussions have taken place between the Department and Community Mental Health. The discussions involve the possibility of bringing mental health practitioners into the Department.
Comm. Dedden asked if the $80,000 in Medicaid funds for the two positions is limited. Mr. Bragg stated those funds should not be threatened.
Mr. Bragg further informed the Committee the Health Department is also requesting funds to promote the Lansing Neighborhoods Redevelopment/Revitalization Program. The requested $75,000 would be used to obtain a contract, through the RFP process, to engage community groups in the Program’s efforts. Comm. Hertel requested the Program’s services also involve other communities within the County that are sorely lacking in this area.
In response to Chairperson Grebner, Mr. Bragg explained the Board of Commissioners established a part-time public health nurse position through the 2005 budget process. The position was funded through the z list. This model has proven to be very successful. The Medical Examiner believes this position has saved the Examiner’s Office 23 autopsies. The Medical Examiner would like this service to be intensified. Dr. Sienko would like one full-time Public Health Nurse to support these services. The cost of this position is $37,028.
A general discussion was held regarding the responsibilities of the Public Health Nurse within the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Mr. Bragg stated if the Department has to prioritize the requests, his Department would rank the two Patient Navigator positions as first priority.
MOVED BY COMM. HERTEL, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SEVERINO, TO PLACE THE THREE FOLLOWING ITEMS ON THE Z LIST:
2 PATIENT NAVIGATORS $36,000
COMMUNITY COALITION 75,000
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE -MEDICAL EXAMINER 37,028
Chairperson Grebner stated he believes the Patient Navigator positions are a very good idea. He then stated he suspects the Navigators will be drawn into cases where the patients have been non-compliant with the physician directions. Mr. Bragg stated if this program is successful, he believes the communities will take better care of themselves.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
i. Mid South Substance Abuse Commission
k. Tri-County Aging Consortium
MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHOR, TO ACCEPT THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE MID-SOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE COMMISSION AND THE TRI-COUNTY AGING CONSORTIUM. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
2. Ranking
MOVED BY COMM. HERTEL, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHOR, TO RANK THE Z ITEMS AS FOLLOWS:
a. Patient Navigator
b. Community Coalition
c. Public Health Nurse
MOVED BY COMM. BAHAR-COOK, TO AMEND THE PREVIOUS MOTION TO RANK THE ITEMS AS FOLLOWS:
a. Public Health Nurse
b. Community Coalition
c. Patient Navigator
MOTION DIED DUE TO LACK OF SUPPORT.
Comm. Hertel withdrew his motion. Comm. Schor withdrew his support of the motion.
MOVED BY COMM. HERTEL, SUPPORTED BY COMM. BAHAR-COOK, TO RANK THE Z ITEMS. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED BY COMM. SEVERINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. DEDDEN, TO ACCEPT THE FINAL RANKING AS:
1. PATIENT NAVIGATOR
2. PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE – MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE
3. COMMUNITY COALITION
AND TO FORWARD THE CONTROLLER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Announcements: None
Public Comment: None
The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Neff