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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM091913JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, September 19, 2013 Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 Board Members Phil Johnson, County Commissioner District #1 David Sullivan, Vice Chair, County Commissioner, District #2 John Austin, County Commissioner, District #3 Roberta Frissell, Citizen at large (County) Catharine Robinson, Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Citizen at large (City) Jill Buhler, Chair, Hospital Commissioner, District #2 Staff Members Thomas Locke, MD, MPH Health Officer Jean Baldwin, Public Health Services Dir Jared Keefer, Env. Health Services Dir Veronica Shaw, Deputy Director Chair Buhler called the September 19, 2013 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:35 PM. A quorum was present. Members Present: Jill Buhler, Sheila Westerman, Roberta Frissell, Catharine Robinson, David Sullivan, Phil Johnson, John Austin Staff Present: Dr. Thomas Locke, Jean Baldwin, Jared Keefer Members Excused: None APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Buhler called for review and approval of agenda. Member Austin requested an additional item be added under Old Business and Informational Items, as item number one: Healthplanfinder & the Affordable Care Act. Member Austin moved to approve the agenda as amended; the motion was seconded by Member Frissell. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Buhler called for review and approval of the minutes. Member Robinson moved to approve the minutes as presented; the motion was seconded by Member Frissell. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT BOH Minutes — September 19, 2013 No public comment. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS wahealthplanfinder.org and the Affordable Care Act Karen Obermeyer reported that Jefferson County Public Health staff attended a training regarding the upcoming changes and strategies for outreach regarding the Affordable Care Act. Three key messages for the public: 1. Enrollment starts on October 1, 2013 and coverage starts on January 1, 2014. 2. These plans will fit into your budget. 3. "In-person assisters" will be working with the public through three local agencies. Jefferson Healthcare, the Olympic Area Agency on Aging and JCPH will offer drop in centers, with computers and in-person assisters for public enrollment. The target groups for in-person assisters are families and individuals with lower incomes, language barriers, families with children, and persons with disabilities. All enrollments will be online, through www.wahealthplanfinder.org. A call center is available at (855) 923-4633 from 7:30 am — 8:30 pm. Washington State School Nurse Corps Receives the Warren Featherstone Reid Award Jean Baldwin and Dr. Locke acknowledged the prestigious Warren Featherstone Reid Award bestowed on the Washington State School Nurse Corps. They also highlighted some of the work that's being done through school nurses provided by Jefferson County Public Health and at Jefferson County's two school-based clinics. Secure Medicine Take -back Program Follow-up: Alameda County Lawsuit Dismissed Dr. Locke reviewed the dismissal of the pharmaceutical industry's lawsuit against the Alameda County drug take -back programs. This lawsuit has been closely watched by the King County Board of Health who has adopted an ordinance similar to Alameda County. The next milestone for King County's drug take -back program will come in November, with a deadline for pharmaceutical companies to declare plans for take -back. JCPH staff will continue to review the progress of these measures with the Board of Health. Fee Schedule for Pools Chair Buhler disclosed that she has a conflict of interest with this item, having a business relationship with the Port Townsend Athletic Club, and recused herself from chairing and voting on this item. Vice -Chair David Sullivan will chair this matter. Jared Keefer and Dana Fickeisen reviewed a rough draft of fee schedule proposals, to begin planning for a public hearing in December. Staff reviewed the regulatory requirements and fees for spas and pools under WAC 246-260. Proposed changes will include a language change from "pools & spas" to "water recreation facilities," which is the term used in State regulations. The contract with the State, signed this year, requires that we comply with WAC 246-260 regarding maximum fees that can be charged. Upon review, staff found that JCPH fees differed from the state fees, and that one fee is higher than the state fee. Staff made a series of recommendations 2 BOH Minutes — September 19, 2013 that included use of the fee titles described in WAC 246-260, changing local fees to be consistent with and lower than the WAC fees (for example, add fee for re -inspections). Another option is to adopt and use the WAC fees. Member Austin moved to review the revised fee schedule proposals in October and to call for a public hearing on the issue in December. Member Westerman seconded the motion. Vice Chair Sullivan called for further discussion. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. Staff Contact Update A current staff and clinic contact list was distributed to the Board through inclusion in the agenda packet. NEW BUSINESS 2014 Communicable Diseases Performance Measures Plan Jean Baldwin and Dr. Locke updated the board on communicable diseases performance measures issues. JCPH has seen an increase in calls received regarding bat exposure. So far in 2013, 5 bats have been sent to the State lab for testing; 4 were negative for rabies, 1 was a positive. Dr. Locke reported that three public communication messages have been developed regarding bats and rabies: 1. JCPH wants people to know that bats are a significant reservoir for rabies in Washington State and that direct contact with bats should be avoided, 2. JCPH wants people to understand what "contact" is. Rabies is transmitted through saliva or tissue or fluid with a direct connection to the central nervous system. Also, there can be "unapparent" exposures to bats. This can occur if a bat is found in a sleeping area or an area where potential exposure to children may have occurred. If this happens it is important to safely catch the bat so that it can be tested for rabies. The incubation period for rabies is variable, ranging from 2 weeks to 7 years. More typically, it's in the 45-90 day range. 3. And finally, JCPH wants to remind people to vaccinate their pets against rabies — exposures of cats and dogs to live bats are common. A cluster of salmonella cases from a boy -scout camp in Enumclaw is being tracked — some of the campers were from Jefferson County. Update: immunization exemption rates for schools were published early in the summer. The rate for 2012 increased from 9.5% in 2011 to 12%. Prior to 2011 the exemption rate was 16%. The Communicable Disease Program has been using carry-over budget funding to maintain staffing and program services, and this will come to an end in 2014. Full funding for the Communicable Disease Program is one of the holes in 2014 JCPH budget. Food Program Permit Processing 3 BOH Minutes — September 19, 2013 Jared Keefer reported on the evaluation of the impact of the temporary food program fee increases. In 2012, substantial improvements were made to the program and the program database was changed. These changes have allowed a more streamlined process and improved data collection. The program has partnered with WSU and with the Port Townsend Farmers Market for public education. A revamped permit application captures more information and increases the opportunity for food safety education. Staff presented data related to permit tracking in 2012 and year to date information for 2013. Contract Discussion with Jefferson County School Districts JCPH has had contracts for providing sex education, scoliosis testing, and other school nursing services with Port Townsend, Chimacum, Quilcene, and Brinnon School Districts for more than 25 years. In the past, JCPH has used money for children with special health care needs (federal funding). This funding isn't available anymore and Medicaid administrative match is dwindling. A letter regarding these funding issues (included in the Board's agenda packet) was sent to all of the districts. Flu Season Letter to Providers Included in the Board's agenda packet is a letter from JCPH Communicable Disease Program staff to area providers regarding flu and pneumonia vaccines and information about new types of influenza vaccine available. NACCHO 2013 Local Public Health Department Profile Jean Baldwin reviewed the NACCHO 2013 Local Public Health Department Profile, which reports that 40% of all health departments nationally have reduced programs in the last year and will continue to make reductions. One of the most impacted programs is Maternal Child Health. Public health emergency preparedness has also been reduced substantially throughout the nation. None ACTIVITY UPDATE AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR The November Jefferson County Board of Health meeting will be canceled due to a scheduling conflict with the statewide WA Association of Counties meeting. Notice of the cancelation will be given according to public meeting procedures. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING Next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2013 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 ADJOURNMENT 4 BOH Minutes — September 19, 2013 Chair Buhler adjourned the September 19, 2013 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:25 PM. JEFFE C TY BOARD OF HEALTH Philhnson, Ver ill Buhler, hair ZZo Z�Z�5 Roberta �ri s 4sell, Member David ulliv , ice Chair Catharine Robinson, Member J Austin, Member l Sheila Westerman, Member Respectfully Submitted: Cara Leckenby BOH Minutes — September 19, 2013