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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM101713JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, October 17, 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 Julia Danskin, Nursing Services Dir Jared Keefer, Env. Health Services Dir Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Dir Chair Buhler called the October 17, 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, Julia Danskin, Veronica Shaw Members Excused: None APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Buhler called for review and approval of agenda. Member Westerman moved to approve the agenda as presented; 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 Frissell moved to approve the minutes as presented; the motion was seconded by Member Austin. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment. BOH Minutes — October 17, 2013 OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Affordable Care Act Update: Health Exchange Enrollment Julia Danskin reports that there are complications with implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Health Exchange enrollments, however staff is working through them. One complication is the newly qualified, who would qualify for Medicaid under the expansion, are no longer being processed through DSHS, and are instead being directed by DSHS CSO to JCPH and Jefferson Healthcare. There are programmatic overlaps with Breast and Cervical Health program and with the Take Charge program where there are gaps in income eligibility between program limits and ACA limits. There are glitches in the website signup, which is taking anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 weeks, and the call center lines are at capacity, with very long wait times. Girls Night Out: Breast Cancer Prevention Julia Danskin reported that Girls Night Out 2013 was a very successful evening. Main Street Project puts together gift bags to be sold, and each bag included information about healthcare reform, and breast health. Almost $6,000 was raised through sale of the bags, and funds (after expenses) will partially benefit the Jefferson County Breast and Cervical Health Program, Jefferson County Public Health WIC Newsletter Julia Danskin reviewed the WIC client newsletter included in the Board's agenda packet. WIC is no longer in danger of being cut now that Federal government shutdown has ended. WIC is becoming a services coordination hub, serving 830 individuals a year in Jefferson County. Other programs highlighted for WIC clients (which are also inclusive of other populations) are Smile - Mobile, Farmers Market produce purchase, and the Breastfeeding Tea. JHC Meeting with JCPH Dr. Locke discussed the second in a series of meetings between Jefferson Health Care and Jefferson County Public Health, focused on Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA), a survey of the major health needs of the community. This process addresses services provided and needs, where the gaps are, and how to mobilize improvements. JCPH currently has assessment data that can be updated. There was a consensus that CHNA planning is important and will be implemented locally. Mental health inclusion issue was discussed — identifying a solution for treatment, and prevention and maintenance. NEW BUSINESS Environmental Health Fee Schedule: Proposed Adoption Schedule Jean Baldwin reviewed discussion from the September meeting of the Board of Health, which included addressing water recreation fees. Subsequent to that meeting, staff found that there are changes in the temporary food fees, and in solid waste fees. With the inclusion of all fee needs, it's suggested that the December discussion be postponed until an all-inclusive fee schedule change discussion can occur in January or February. 2 BOH Minutes — October 17, 2013 Member Robinson moved to postpone the hearing on fees which was to occur during the regular December Board of Health meeting. Member Austin seconded the motion. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. Environmental Health Proposal for Enforcement Cost Recovery Linda Atkins presented information on the possible placement of notice to title and charging a fee for rescission of the notice for certain violations. She included review of how it would intersect with our current compliance efforts and how other jurisdictions utilize this tool. It is a way to alert future owners of existing violations and recoup costs associated with the noticing process. It is also an incentive for the owner to correct the issue, and is a way for interested parties to be aware of important and lasting land issues, although currently the tool is used infrequently because of the cost. Three jurisdictions that use this tool are Okanogan, Seattle -King, Tacoma/Pierce counties. JC Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney David Alvarez has reviewed those programs. The jurisdictions utilizing a cost recovery fee are finding that with the fee, many violations see a response before filing the Notice to Title. Costs which might be included in a Notice to Title fee include: recording fees, administrative costs, time spent creating the site specific notice and rescission, and communicating with current and future interested parties about the notice, or rescission. This issue will be presented to the Board again with subsequent all-inclusive fee schedule change discussions. Member Westerman suggests adding a per -hour fee description and an additional per hour fee (for overage) included with this fee structure in order to adjust for outliers, and recoup all costs. Temporary Food Program Permit Activity Report Susan Porto recognizes Food Program staff member Mina Kwanza's diligence in tracking information on the day to day activities associated with implementing the food safety program. The information tracked allowed us to represent accurately the time spent in the temporary food permit process, which is becoming a year-round program. The hand-out in the Board's agenda packet includes time studies, take-away's related to the time studies, and comparisons with past data. Member Westerman recommended the addition of a per -hour fee description and an additional per hour fee (for overage) included in the fee structure. 2014 Jefferson County Public Health Budget Jean Baldwin reviewed impacts to the Jefferson County Public Health Budget. JCPH budgeting has included a budget carryover yearly through the recession, this is diminishing. JCPH programs will be changing, and Federal and State programs are making changes that may or may not be affecting JCPH programs. JCPH has asked for budget appropriations, and is budgeting on a three month basis to adjust quickly and appropriately. The annual County budget process was completed in July but did an October budget review and November all appear similar. Budget reviews will be completed in January, and again in April. JCPH may have to use program cuts, policy shifts, staff adjustments, and layoffs in order to meet any further budget shortfalls. There have been programmatic and policy adjustments and one layoff since October of 2013. This budget shortfall will be continuing through the coming year. BOH Minutes — October 17, 2013 JCPH has been notified that CPS will no longer be contracting with us for court observations, and low risk families. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment stops in March, but how the ACA will financially impact the department is unknown. Our electronic medical records (EMR) system has problems, and contracts are changing — this will have financial implications for JCPH. Ms. Baldwin will be coming to the Board for guidance about shortfalls, programmatic and policy adjustments as the need arises. A Board retreat may be advisable to address these issues. Federal Government Shutdown: Public Health Program Impacts Dr. Locke reported that the Federal government shutdown has ended. In the long run, the cost to the American public in terms of loss in Gross National Product will likely be in the billions. JCPH was prepared to respond to the program cuts with furlough notices, and the first victims of this reduction would have been children — Head Start, TANF and WIC. The issue may arise again in January 2014. ACTIVITY UPDATE Ms. Joswick noted that a national drug take -back day event will take place a week from Saturday 10-2 at Safeway, under the auspices of the Port Townsend Police Department. Volunteers are needed, and Ms. Joswick encourages members to spread the word. No public comment. PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR The November Jefferson County Board of Health meeting will be canceled due to the WASAC meeting and other scheduling conflicts. Notice of the cancellation will be given according to public meeting procedures. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2013 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 ADJOURNMENT Chair Buhler adjourned the September 19, 2013 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:20 PM. 4 BOH Minutes — October 17, 2013 JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH �e Phil Johnson, Me r n... ill Buhler, Chair Roberta Frissell, Member Davi u 1 ice air / l Catharine Robinson, Member Jo Austin, Member Sheila Westerman, Member Respectfully Submitted: Cara Leckenby 5 BOH Minutes — October 17, 2013