McLean County Times

McLean County Health Committee will met Monday, Dec. 5.

Here are the minutes as provided by McLean County:

Minutes of the Health Committee

The Health Committee of the McLean County Board met on Monday, December 5, 2016, at 4:30 PM in Room 400 of the Government Center, 115 East Washington Street, Bloomington, IL.

Members Present: Chairperson Schafer; Members Wendt, Metsker, Gordon,

Robustelli, Martin and Wollrab

Members Absent: None

Other Members Present: None

Staff Present: Ms. Hannah Eisner, Assistant County Administrator; Mr. Eric Schmitt, Administrative Services Director; Ms. Amy Brooke, Recording Secretary, County Administrator’s Office;

Department Heads/ Elected Officials Present: Mr. Walt Howe, Health Department Administrator; Ms. Cindy Wegner, Nursing Home Administrator; Ms. Cassy Taylor, Director of Court Services; Ms. Cathy Waltz, Superintendent of JDC; Ms. Michelle Welch, Clinic Supervisor/RHA, Detention Facility

Others Present: Ms. Laura Beavers, Health Department; Mr. Tom Anderson, Health Department; Ms. Kim Anderson, Health Department; Ms. Judy Buchanan,

Chairperson Schafer called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM and declared a quorum. Chairperson Schafer confirmed there were no appearances by members of the public.

Motion by Wollrab/Robustelli to approve the October 31, 2016 minutes. Motion carried. Member Metsker abstained.

The Adult and Juvenile Detention presented items for action.

Motion by Wollrab/Martin to approve a contract for counseling services at the Juvenile Detention Center with Cathy Mullen Vogel. Motion carried.

Member Wollrab asked what the arrangements would be if Ms. Mullen Vogel was not available.

Ms. Waltz stated that Chris Cashen provides backup services for her any time that she is on vacation or otherwise unavailable.

Member Wollrab asked if Mr. Cashen’s services were part of this contract.

Ms. Waltz stated that there is not a contract with Mr. Cashen because there are not a set number of hours per year.

Motion by Robustelli/Gordon to approve the renewal of an agreement with Eric Abreu to provide dental clinician services at the Mclean county Adult Detention Facility. Motion carried.

Motion by Martin/Wollrab to approve the renewal of an agreement with Merle Pharmacy, Inc. for the provision of Pharmaceutical Services at the McLean County Adult Detention Facility. Motion carried.

Member Wollrab asked if Merle Pharmacy provided specialty pharmacy or if they contracted that out.

Ms. Welch stated that they provide everything that is needed at the Detention Facility. If it is something that the staff is unable to find, Merle Pharmacy will find it for the facility and bring it.

Member Wollrab stated that she did not see pricing information, particularly for higher end medications, in the contract.

Ms. Welch stated that the prices change so much and so frequently that it is difficult to pinpoint it. She stated that the main drugs that are pricey are the HIV medications.

Member Wollrab stated that for the higher end biological meds you would typically contract with someone outside of town.

Ms. Welch stated that they have not run across that and that Merle Pharmacy has been able to provide what has been needed.

Member Wollrab asked what the pricing agreement for that would be. She stated that those medications (ex: Hepatitis C) can run $10,000 a month.

Ms. Welch stated that they had not treated Hepatitis C.

Member Wollrab asked how those medications would be accessed within the terms of this contract in the event that it was needed

Ms. Welch stated that she suspected they would go through Merle Pharmacy to see what he could get.

Ms. Eisner shared that in one instance a detainee was receiving treatment through a doctor in Chicago and received his medications through that office.

Ms. Eisner shared that the County has had a contract with Merle for years. This coming year there is a plan to put the pharmaceuticals out to bid. Pricing for those types of medications could be part of the bid specifications. The contract is written to allow either party to terminate with a 60 day notice.

Ms. Schafer shared that Merle has been very responsive when the jail needed something without the need to wait for a lengthy period of time to get it. They would provide medications at times when other pharmacies would not.

Member Metsker asked what “transfer paperwork” done by the nurse at the Juvenile Detention Center meant.

Ms. Waltz stated that it is paperwork to make sure that everyone is informed regarding the medical needs of the juvenile when they are transferring placement.

Chairperson Schafer invited Ms. Cindy Wegner to discuss the Nursing Home.

Motion by Robustelli/Wollrab to approve the Nursing Home 2017 Private Pay rates. Motion carried. One opposed.

Member Wendt stated that he had noticed that there have been fewer private pay patients. He is concerned with raising the rate when there are fewer private pay patients. He suggested that the County should be considering lowering the rate for private pay to encourage private pay patients to choose the County Nursing Home. He asked what Medicare pays.

Ms. Wegner stated that the rate of Medicare payment depends on the level of services when they come in. Medicaid is lower than the Medicare rate.

Member Wendt noted that the rate for a double room (two room conversion) is almost double. He asked how many of these two room conversions were occupied.

Ms. Wegner stated that they do not currently have any residents occupying two room conversions.

Member Wendt questioned the rate for a two room conversion being doubled because most of the expense is related to the care of the person. Maybe the price shouldn’t be

double since it is simply adding some square footage. Could that rate be lowered to entice more people to take advantage of having a double room?

Ms. Wegner clarified that a semi-private room that is converted would be a double room and the rate for that is $235. It isn’t doubled. The $415 is something that would be two rooms converted that would share a bath. This isn’t something that they have used yet but they wanted to offer it in case there was an interest. It would be two double rooms rented out for one person.

Member Robustelli asked about the County’s private pay rates in comparison to the competition.

Ms. Wegner stated that our private pay rate is $5-$30 less than the competitor’s.

Member Robustelli stated that this would be something that needs to be studied. It would need to be a dramatic step down and that could run into issues on the revenue side. In this case it is a question of price and quality and what would need to be done to compete with other spaces in the market. In terms of the two room conversion, there is some merit in the idea of making it more competitive.

Member Wendt stated that his understanding was that a person could set up a sitting room so that people wouldn’t be in their bedroom. That would be attractive but not at the proposed price.

Ms. Wegner stated that they did a rate comparison with other facilities. What they are suggesting for private room rates are less than other facilities. Some facilities do not offer private rooms. Some facilities double the rate for a single private room.

Member Metsker asked what kind data is available that could speak to why someone choses another facility over the McLean County facility. Is that kind of data available?

Ms. Wegner stated that it is not something that has formally been collected. The admissions coordinator has had some informal discussions regarding why individuals have selected other facilities. It is something that they can work on gathering to present to the committee.

Member Gordon asked if there is any information regarding the fluctuation in the number of private pay. Earlier in the year the number of private pay was in the low thirties and then above forty and it has come back down in September-October. Is there a reason for those fluctuations?

Ms. Wegner state that there are a variety of reasons. Some of those admissions came in privately and then converted over to Medicaid.

Motion by Gordon/Metsker for approval of the Nursing Home 2017 Transportation Rates.

Motion by Robustell/Martin to approve the Nursing Home 2017 Transportation Rates for doctor or personal outings outside of Bloomington Normal but restrict it to a maximum of 60 miles each way. Motion carried.

Member Gordon asked where the rates for transportation came from.

Ms. Wegner shared that they evaluated other private services that are being offered to transport residents. They wanted to make the rates affordable and competitive. This would also allow residents to be transported by their own personal staff member as opposed to an unfamiliar driver.

Member Robustelli asked if the residents were eligible for Connect Mobility.

Ms. Wegner stated that some of the residents are eligible. It would still be utilized. Sometimes this is difficult to schedule.

Members discussed the radius that the proposed fee would cover. Ms. Wegner shared that they recently had to transport a resident to Peoria for a medical procedure. In addition, a resident requested a personal transport for a family engagement in Hopedale.

Member Wollrab stated that $10 doesn’t seem to cost the actual service to cover the vehicle, the gas, and employee time.

Ms. Wegner stated that they wanted to stay competitive. Most of the other services are $20-$25 roundtrip. Some can be as high as $50. This is something new and they want to try to see if it is feasible going forward. Most other facilities offer some form of this.

Ms. Eisner stated that this is something that might make us more appealing and help increase the census.

Member Robustelli stated that the only thing that makes him uncomfortable is the language. The way it currently reads it is $25 outside of Bloomington-Normal. Should a radius be applied?

Members discussed the mileage to Peoria, Champaign, and Springfield as possible radius points.

Chairperson Schafer brought up that if someone is transported to, for example, Peoria, the van and the staff person would be out of commission for half a day or even a whole day. The $25 wouldn’t cover that kind of service. How could this be addressed?

Ms. Wegner shared that Connect and YWCA would be the first two options. This would be a third option if the other two were not available. There are not that many residents going out every day of the week that it would be a hindrance.

Member Gordon stated that his impression is that this is a trial run and they will monitor to see how the service is utilized.

Ms. Wegner shared that the Health Department has been collecting socks for the residents. On the 22nd they are going to deliver them and sing Christmas carols.

Mr. Howe presented an activity summary report for the Health Department through the end of October 2016. He also presented the division reports that were presented to the Board of Health at the November 16, 2016 meeting.

Member Gordon stated that he had noticed that geothermal registrations had gone up almost 50%.

Mr. Anderson confirmed that there has been an increase in geothermal registrations. Ameren Energy has offered incentives to get off of fossil fuels. The State and Federal governments are also offering incentives for alternative energy. Those incentives will not be offered in 2017.

Member.Metsker asked if registrations put in by school districts were exempt from Fees.

Mr. Anderson stated that schools are charged.

There were no additional questions for the Health Department.

Chairperson Schafer shared that the next meeting for the Health Committee is January 4, 2017 at 3:00 PM due to the holiday.

Chairman Schafer presented bills to be paid for the Nursing Home totaling $241,587.19 with a fund total of the same.

Motion by Robustelli/Martin to approve bills for the Nursing Home as presented. Motion carried.

Chairman Schafer presented bills to be paid for the Developmental Disability Board totaling $55.216.04 with a fund total of the same.

Motion by Gordon/Martin to approve bills for the Developmental Disability Board as presented. Motion carried.

Chairman Schafer presented bills to be paid for Jail Medical and JDC Medical totaling $47,992.38 with a fund total of the same.

Motion by Wollrab/Gordon to approve bills to be paid for the Jail Medical and JDC Medical as presented. Motions carried.

Chairman Schafer presented bills to be paid for the Health Department with a prepaid total of $249,692.48 and a Fund Total of $249,692.48 with a fund total of the same.

Motion by Harris/Robustelli to approve bills for the Health Department as presented. Motions carried.

Meeting adjourned at 5:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Amy L. Brooke Recording Secretary