Minutes

•  Review Agenda, Approve Minutes and Set New Agenda Items

Present: Jan Elliott, Marvin Rouse, Renee Bynum, Anne Johnson, Susan McCracken, Susan York, Judy Pelt, Jackie Williams, Gail Holden, Barbara Lilientha, Terri Franco, Gerelene Goodman, Beverly Warren, Sandy Dunevant, Pamela Davis, Karen Wilson, Suzanne Merrill, John Tanner, Sam Hubbard, Nancy Warren, Shannon Crane, Glenda Artis, Gary Cyrus, Karen Gottovi, Jean Reaves, Judy Dahlstrom, Bettye Clark-Mills, Teresa Johnson, Carol Addington

Conclusion:

Minutes of April meeting approved on motion by Susan McCracken with a second by Judy Pelt.

Action Items:

•  Report from APS Task Force at next meeting

Person Responsible:

Deadline:

•  Adult Day Care- Jean Reaves, Judy Dahlstrom, Bettye Clark-Mills, Teresa Johnson

Discussion:   Representatives of the Adult Day Care Association came to request our support on several items.   Most critical was the need to increase rates which haven’t been increased since 1997.   A special provision is in the Senate Budget to allow this to be taken to the Social Services Commission for action.   Ten centers have closed since January , 2002.   They cited an earlier study by Division of Aging as their documentation for a need for an increase and indicated they are basing the amount on information from the study.   They are asking rates be increased to $31.00 per day for day care and $44.00 for day health.   They would like to have additional funding to support increase, but acknowledge that won’t happen in today’s climate.   There is also an interest in using Medicaid dollars for more Medicaid clients to prevent institutionalization.   Centers exist in about 60% of the counties in NC and are an integral part of the continuum of care for folks who wish to remain in their home.   A study was cited that noted approximately 1% of the population is appropriate for day care/day health.   It was noted that some counties attempt to negotiate lower rates than that set in policy.   They noted that Mental Health currently buys services in many locations at rates ranging from $30-$52.00 for 6 hours of care.   DSS often is paying for 11 hours of care at the current rate of $23.00.   Shannon Crane with DOA noted that in the past we have given centers start-up, but haven’t been able to sustain.

Conclusion:    Motion was made by Jan Elliott and seconded to support the Special Provision.   It was also recommended that each county go talk to their own provider to find out what the issues are.   This will allow us to be better informed.   It was also recommended that the Executive Board have some Association representatives speak at an upcoming meeting.

Action Items:

•  Take recommendations to Executive Board

Person Responsible:

Jan Elliott/Marvin Rouse

Deadline:

6/12/03

2.    Mental Health Reform

Discussion: Discussion focused on target population and who is left out along with potential impact on DSS as it was felt this was the agency in the community that would be looked to as the problem solver.   Issues with adult care/family care homes being prepared to handle the discharge of folks into their facilities.   It was noted Catawba has begun a training program to educate adult care home employees.   Some discussion about private Mental Health homes and the fact that many are not contracting with local Mental Health programs.   It was noted that DFS needed to bring all the licensing units together as they aren’t talking to each other.   Also, were Adult Care Homes residents going to be a priority for treatment? Folks were concerned that agencies were divesting before the infrastructure was in place.   Other issues were around APS and the need to have evaluation assistance as noted in GS 108A-103(b).   Would the LME’s continue to provide this assistance?   It was noted by committee members that cost shifts were already occurring as we were now having to pay for the providers to come testify, etc.   when this had been provided by Mental Health as part of the package.   Guardianship is still not referenced in the plan.   The group was concerned about the issue and had already noted Clerks had been informed in some areas that MH was no longer accepting new cases due to reform.   The group noted a need to maintain a core case management component.   The group feels DSS needs to be represented on the state stakeholder group.   No one was certain if anyone had been appointed. Jan asked for folks who would be willing to assist in developing a paper on behalf of the Association to be sent to the Secretary about the concerns related to placing MH patients in adult care homes and suggestions for how to prevent problems for developing.   Please let her know if you are interested in participating.

Conclusion:    Motion to incorporate comments into Association comments re Plan.

Action Items:

•  Comments are to be included in Association response to latest plan.  

•  Share comments with Tara Larson of DMH at Executive Board meeting on 12 th .

Person Responsible:

Jan Elliott, Marvin Rouse

Deadline:

6/12/03

3.     Adult Care Home Rules – Judy Pelt

Discussion:    Kay Barrow had noted a concern about the new rules, primarily what was not fully spelled out in rules as the Rules Committee hadn’t discussed to date.   The issue was facility closures and the concerns were around who was involved, patient freedom of choice, etc.   Judy reported that she understood these were procedural changes that would make little difference.   Suzanne Merrill questioned how these issues were being handled under the Temporary Rules process.   No one seemed to know.   Members were given the rules and the address and deadline for comments.

Conclusion:

Action Items:

• 

Person Responsible:

Deadline:

None

4.     Long Term Care Planning pilot-Nancy Warren

Discussion:  

Nancy noted the request for applicant counties to participate would be going out shortly and told us to be on the look out.   They are seeking 2 pilots.   There are no dollars to support counties in this process.

Conclusion:  

Action Items:

• 

Person Responsible:

Deadline:

5.    Comments from Chairs

Discussion:  

Marvin and Jan noted this would be their last meeting as Co-Chairs.   Judy Pelt of Wayne County and Beverly Warren of Person would take over July 1.   The group was thanked for their work this year.    There will be no meeting in July.

Conclusion:  

Action Items:

• 

Person Responsible:

Deadline: