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Home My WebLink AboutM091511JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, September 15, 2011 - 2:30 PM — 4:30 PM Public Health Conference Room, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend Board Members Staff Members Phil Johnson, Vice Chair, County Commissioner District #1 Thomas Locke, MD, MPH Health Officer David Sullivan, County Commissioner, District #2 Jean Baldwin, Public Health Services Director John Austin, County Commissioner, District #3 Julia Danskin, Nursing Services Director Roberta Frissell, Citizen at large (County) Stuart Whitford, Environmental Health Services Director Kristen Nelson, Chair, Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Citizen at large (City) Jill Buhler, Hospital Commissioner, District #2 Chair Kristen Nelson called the meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:35 PM. A quorum was present. Members Present: Phil Johnson, David Sullivan, John Austin, Kristen Nelson, Sheila Westerman, Roberta Frissell Staff Present: Dr. Thomas Locke, Jean Baldwin, Julia Danskin Members Excused: Jill Buhler APPROVAL OF AGENDA Member Johnson moved to approve the agenda for the September 15, 2011 BOH meeting; Member Austin seconded. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Westerman moved to approve the minutes for the August 18, 2011 BOH meeting; Member Johnson seconded. The motion passed unanimously. None PUBLIC COMMENTS OLD BUSINESS and INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Family Planning and WIC Outreach Julia Danskin reported that in an effort to increase the WIC case load numbers there have been several outreach attempts made, which have included posting fliers at several businesses and organizations in the community, sending a packet of information to local health care providers, as well as some families that are WIC recipients doing interviews with the Leader. BOH Minutes September 15, 2011 Chair Nelson recommended that JCPH ask permission to post the fliers inside women's restrooms of local businesses for a limited period of time. A brief period of questions and answers followed regarding tobacco use and the laws regarding public tobacco use. Chair Nelson raised a question regarding steam cigarettes and if they are legal or fall under Initiative 901. Ms. Baldwin will do some research and follow up with an answer as to whether the use of steam cigarettes is legal in public places. In addition, Member Westerman voiced her concern over tobacco use at The Uptown Pub in an outdoor area. Ms. Baldwin recommended that she call and place a formal complaint. Ms. Baldwin concluded the discussion by reminding the Board that community norms must change because community education is no longer funded. Diphtheria, Pertussis - Give Immunity, Fight Transmission (The G.I.F.T. Program) Ms. Baldwin mentioned that another outreach program that JCPH is involved with is getting the Diphtheria and Pertussis vaccine to low income, uninsured adults, and all adults who have direct contact with infants, since Pertussis is the second most vaccine preventable disease. The G.I.F.T. program assists with the cost of the adult vaccine for low income or uninsured. NEW BUSINESS Preparation for the 2011-12 Influenza Season Dr. Locke updated the Board on the 2011-2012 Influenza season which typically occurs some time between October and May. The priority group for flu vaccine this year is any one over the age of 6 months, with the greatest danger of complications of the flu being to the very young and very old. Dr. Locke reported that the majority of hospitals in Washington are requiring health care workers with direct contact to patients be vaccinated. He also mentioned that this year there is a new vaccine delivery system available called the intradermal injection which uses a smaller dose of the vaccine delivered by a very small needle into the skin and is as effective as the conventional injectable in healthy adults. A recommendation was made that at the next Board of Health meeting in October, the Board members receive their flu vaccine and invite the Leader to be at the meeting. Finally, Dr. Locke reported that there is a new H3N2 variant of the swine flu has surfaced in Ohio. At this point the virus has not posed a serious pandemic threat and is being closely monitored. State DD and DSHS Cuts Ms. Danskin updated the Board on State Developmental Disability cuts that are taking effect immediately. She reported that the state funded Disability Lifeline program has been eliminated, but there have been 3 new programs created to help low income individuals without dependents who are elderly or cannot work due to incapacity or disability. These people will continue to BOH Minutes September 15, 2011 receive health care benefits from the state but will lose assistance for housing and food. These changes will affect 137 people in Jefferson County. Secondly, Ms. Danskin reported there have been changes to the Medicaid laws which limit the amounts of non -emergent emergency room visits to 3 per year. Dr. Locke pointed out that the change to this law may be problematic to hospitals because it is not until after the patient has been evaluated that they know whether the condition is non -emergent. Finally, Ms. Danskin stated that the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast was released, at this point it is unclear where the Governor will make cuts, but all state dollars for flexible programs are on the table and could impact JCPH's budget. JCPH, County Budget Update Ms. Baldwin presented several graphs which outlined the JCPH 2012 budget. The first graph showed the percentage of money from the county general fund that goes back to the county for rent/leases and the amount remaining for services for both JCPH and Water Quality. The second graph that Ms. Baldwin presented was Community Health Fees which shows that client fees have stayed about the same over the past year; Medicaid showed a large drop, which is due to a change in Medicaid's billing system causing a delay in their bills being paid and Private Insurance dropped as a result of approximately 550 people who were on Basic Health losing their benefits. Environmental Health fees show a large drop. As the fees drop staff is being moved to other positions that have funding. The third graph that Ms. Baldwin reviewed showed changes to FTE's for JCPH and Water Quality. Overall the graph shows that staffing is down. Also reviewed was the Revenue Source Trend for both Environmental Health and Water Quality. Revenue and Program changes in 2011-2012; Tobacco, Child Care, Communicable Disease, Dental, Foot Care, Environmental Health Fees, BCHP, Drinking Water (Group B), Family Planning and PHEPR Ms. Baldwin explained the spreadsheet that was included in the agenda packet which showed current State budget cuts and how they will affect JCPH 2012 Budget. Several programs including Tobacco Prevention, Oral Health, and Healthy Child Care have been eliminated. The programs that will be seeing reductions in their funding are Family Planning, HIV Prevention (which funds the syringe exchange program), Blue Ribbon (which fund Communicable Disease and Immunizations), Breast and Cervical Health Program, Early Intervention Program, Early Family Support Services Program, and Medicaid fees. The only program seeing an increase is WIC. Ms. Baldwin also mentioned that JCPH is trying to build up a Communicable Disease emergency fund of $400,000.00 or 15% of the budget so that the money is available for surge capacity. The goal for 2013 is to put in $150,000.00 to begin phasing in funds. This has been included in the budget. BOH Minutes September 15, 2011 ACTIVITY UPDATE Ms. Danskin announced that Girls Night Out is October 6th. She will be focusing on prevention by placing brochures that focus on prevention in all the packets that will be handed out at the event. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR Ms. Baldwin announced there is another O & M installment in October. Ms. Baldwin stated that she will come back to the Board with outreach programs for vaccine hesitant parents. Member Austin mentioned that after being at a public health meeting it was brought up that it may be beneficial for the BOH to be accredited. Ms. Baldwin responded that at some point the Board may want to look at JCPH also being accredited. Ms. Baldwin stated that the flu vaccine will be available to Board member at the October BOH meeting. The next scheduled BOH meeting will be held Thursday, October 20, 2011 from 2:30-4:30 PM at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMENT Member Austin moved to adjourn the September BOH meeting; Member Johnson seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Chair Nelson adjourned the September BOH meeting @ 4:26 p.m. FE ON COUNTY ARD OF HEALTH Kristen Ne son, C air Phil ohnson, ice -Chair Excused Jill Buhler, Member Roberta Frissell, Member Sheila Westerman, Member a�� - Jfin, Member iva , ember BOH Minutes September 15, 2011