Staff: S. Whicher, County Administrator; B. Crosby, Public Health Administrator
Called to Order
The meeting was called to order at 4:10 p.m.
Resolutions
It was MOVED by Ms. Blanchard, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve and submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for approval:
RESOLUTION NO. - AUTHORIZING CHANGES IN CHARGE STRUCTURE - TOMPKINS COUNTY HOME HEALTH CARE - HEALTH DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS, Tompkins County’s accounting consultant,
John Kropski, CPA, of Freed Maxick & Battaglia, PC, has recommended
changes in the Certified Home Health Agency fee structure to maximize Medicaid
and Medicare revenues, and
WHEREAS, New York State currently promulgates rates
on the day the County Legislature approves them and it is therefore, desirable
for Tompkins County to adopt the 2006 rates in December 2005, and
WHEREAS, all changes proposed were made to align
charges with actual costs per unit of service as determined during Mr.
Kropski’s most recent review of our financial and statistical data, now
therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Health and Human
Services and the Budget and Capital Committee, That the Tompkins County
Health Department implements the charge structure below, as recommended
by John Kropski, CPA, in order to maximize Medicaid, Medicare and other
third party revenues:
2006 Tompkins County Home Health Care Fee Schedule
2003
2004/2005 2006
Skilled Nursing
$126.00 $140.00
$150.00
High Tech Nursing
$135.00 $165.00
$185.00
Physical Therapy
$105.00 $105.00
$110.00
Speech Therapy
$105.00 $105.00
$105.00
Occupational Therapy
$105.00 $105.00
$105.00
Medical Social Work
$105.00 $105.00
$105.00
Home Health Aide
$ 41.00/hour $ 45.00/hour $ 45.00
$ 75.00/visit $ 90.00/visit $
90.00
RESOLVED, further, That the Department sets the
per hour Nursing Administrative Charge at sixty-two dollars ($62.00) per
hour, for services as appropriate (i.e. rabies post exposure, hypertension
screening clinics, etc).
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II - 20
Note: The fees are established to maximize dollars from Medicaid, Medicare and other third party payers. The department maintains the use of a sliding fee scale for those patients paying for services out of pocket. In addition we have negotiated agreements with a number of insurance providers and accept payment in full from them. The department continues to maintain the ability to waive a fee in special circumstances.
The following are allowable costs used to determine our
average cost per visit:
Administration Costs: Salary and Fringe Benefits for
administrators, directors, supervisors and others, Contractual services
including Care at Home, Software Support/Maintenance, Cost Reporting Services,
etc.), Supplies, telephone, etc., Depreciation, POM, Transportation.
Direct Services Costs: Salary and Fringe Benefits, Contractual Arrangements, Drugs, Depreciation, POM and Transportation.
It was MOVED by Ms. Kiefer, seconded by Ms. Blanchard, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve and submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for approval:
RESOLUTION NO. - TEMPORARY INCREASE IN HOURS - PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF PATIENT SERVICES
WHEREAS, a staffing shortage has created a temporary need
to increase the hours of the Public Health Director and the Director of
Patient Services, and
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that this increase in hours
would not be required beyond March of 2006, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Health and Human
Services and the Budget and Capital Committees, That the standard workweek
for the position of Public Health Director (90-250) shall be temporarily
increased from 35 hours per week to 37.5 hours per week effective December
4, 2005,
RESOLVED, further, That the standard workweek for the
position of Director of Patient Services (88-230) shall be temporarily
increased from 35 to 40 hours per week effective December 4, 2005,
RESOLVED, further, That the temporary increase in the
authorized workweek for these two positions will sunset on March 25, 2006,
RESOLVED, further, That on March 26, 2006, the positions
will revert to a standard workweek of 35 hours per week.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
Mr. Proto arrived at this time.
It was MOVED by Ms. Kiefer, seconded by Mr. Stevenson, to approve and submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for approval. Mr. Proto MOVED to delete the following language from the last Whereas: …"free from the influences of tobacco industry marketing and from addiction to tobacco,". MOTION FAILED DUE TO LACK OF A SECOND.
Following a brief discussion, a voice vote resulted as follows: Ayes - 5; Noes - 0. RESOLUTION CARRIED.
RESOLUTION NO. - URGING BAN ON SALE AND MARKETING OF FLAVORED CIGARETTES IN NEW YORK STATE
WHEREAS, tobacco use is the number one cause of
preventable death in the United States, and 90 percent of adult smokers
started smoking before they were 18 years old, and
WHEREAS, nationally each day, more than 4,000 young people
try smoking for the first time, and another 2,000 youth become regular
daily smokers, and
WHEREAS, the Surgeon General has concluded that tobacco
advertising greatly contributes to youth smoking rates, and
WHEREAS, an estimated one third of adolescent experimentation
with smoking can be directly attributed to tobacco advertising and promotional
activities (SOURCE: Pierce, John P., et. al. "Tobacco industry promotion
of cigarettes and adolescent smoking." JAMA. February 1998; 279(7):511-515.),
and
WHEREAS, the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) reached
in 1998 between state Attorneys General and major tobacco companies forbids
cigarette manufacturers from directly or indirectly targeting youth in
advertising, marketing and promotion of tobacco products aimed at initiating,
maintaining or increasing youth smoking, and
WHEREAS, internal tobacco industry documents strongly
suggest that manufacturers intentionally targeted youth through use of
candy-like flavors in cigarettes, and
WHEREAS, research from the Harvard School of Public Health
(published November 2005) found that cigarette makers are targeting young
smokers with new candy- and liqueur-flavored brands that mask the harsh
and toxic properties found in tobacco smoke. Tobacco companies use youth-oriented
colorful and stylish packaging, and exploit adolescents’ attraction to
candy flavors with names such as “Mandarin Mint”, “Winter Warm Toffee”
and “Twista Chill”, and
WHEREAS, Tompkins County supports a safe environment
in which our youth can grow and prosper, free from the influences of illegal
tobacco industry marketing and from addiction to tobacco, now therefore
be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Health and Human Services
Committee, That the Tompkins County Legislature urges re-introduction and
passage of proposed bills in the New York State Legislature (A.03983 and
S.01952) prohibiting the sale and marketing of flavored cigarettes,
RESOLVED, further, That copies of this resolution be
sent to Governor George Pataki, Senators Seward, Nozzolio and Winner, and
Assemblyperson Lifton, and Health Committee Chairs Senator Kemp Hannon
and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
Other Business
Mr. Proto asked to receive salary information on home health aide workers. Ms. Crosby said the rates in 2006 range from $16.25-$26.04 which is the amount the Department pays to the licensed agency. The total cost the Department pays for home health aide is approximately $316,000. Ms. Crosby said she will provide a summary of this information, but commented that in the past this information has been made available and is considered propriety data and not to be released.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
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