MCSSA ADULT AND HEALTH SERVICES COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 22, 2008, MEETING

 

MCSSA                                                                                                           LANSING

 

Those in attendance                                          County                                     District

Renee Beniak                                                   MCMCFC

Jamie Cripe                                                      MCSSA

Shelley Jipson-Lomax                                       MCSSA

 

Via Conference Call                                         County                                     District

Liz Krause                                                        Allegan                                     IV

Dale MacDonald                                              Isabella                                     V

Kay Andrzejak                                                 Wayne                                     VI

Allen Adams                                                     DHS/Office of Adult Services

Mel Haga                                                         MCSSA

 

I.          Meeting Called to Order at 1:05pm by Co-Chair, Kay Andrzejak

 

II.         Disposition of Minutes of December 17, 2007

Kay Andrzejak noted correction on page 2, third paragraph, should say she has APS staff. Third sentence should say another issue is that there is no easy way to monitor the computer system that is in place; the program does not have a report function. Subsequent to the meeting it was reported by Cindy Farrell that reporting capability is available through Business/Objects Reporting, a process used through the computer system. “Canned reports” have not been finalized due to Bridges constraints, but would be available every month. However, “ad hoc” reporting can be done. The person needs to know how to use Business/Objects to run the reports. Rachel Richards is the person who runs the reports for Cindy’s office and she is able to provide stats on APS.

 

Dale MacDonald moved to approve as amended. Seconded. Motion carried.

 

III.       Reports

A.        DHS Central Office

Kay Andrzejak has sent an invitation to a manager and several staff at DHS in Adult Services including Rachel Richards (Adult Services/DHS), Allen Adams (Adult Services/DHS), Michelle Best (MA Policy/DHS), Cynthia Farrell (Adult Services/DHS), Linda Kusnier (MA Policy/DCH), Anne Bialke (MA Policy/DCH), Logan Dreasky, Mary Anne Tribble, and Bridget Heffron with information about today’s meeting and information about the ability to participate via teleconference in hopes that they could participate in the future. Mary Ablan at AAA has also been contacted.

 

In an email dated January 22, 2008, from Louise Wing to Michelle Best, Louise was going to report on where they are at with Estate Recovery for Medicaid at the February Legislative Committee meeting, but DHS has not drafted any language or had any discussions about what the policy will entail or how/when it will be implemented.

 

            B.         DCH Central Office

Allen Adams said that he and his colleagues spent a lot of time this past year with local offices on more nursing home closures. About six or seven homes closed in the last year. They helped local offices relocate the residents. Currently, they are working on a closure in Ingham County which will be the first one of this year. It has backlogged everything else that they were doing. The number of nursing homes that closed was very unexpected.

 

Dale is on a local MCF board and said they sent in a corrective action plan for several items and received word that all but one item which dealt with medication was approved. Renee mentioned that there is a push to increase enforcement through CMS. Medicare is not going to pay for substandard services. If CMS denies another visit to check on a correction, then the home is forced to close.

 

            C.        MCSSW

Bonnie Ewald was not present. MCSSW was scheduled to meet that morning. Kay said she was supposed to provide us with a resolution in November. Hopefully she hasn’t lost interest and will be able to join us next month. Kay offered her help.

 

            D.        MCSSA

Mel drafted a letter to Rep. Moolenaar indicating association support for House Bill 5418. It deals with a ban on lit tobacco products when a person under 4 years of age is in a vehicle. Mel would like reaction from this committee and will run it by the Child & Family Services Committee as well. Dale MacDonald moved to support Mel’s letter. Seconded. Motion carried.

 

E.         AAA

Members discussed the loss of Mary Ablan’s participation once again. The relationship was beneficial and members miss her involvement. It would be great if Mary were able to rejoin us.

 

III.       Unfinished Business

            A.        Legislative Priorities

Mel put together a draft to capture the argument of why we need to fully staff Adult Services to the needs that are out there, plus take steps to look at the overall program, how it is structured and try to build in components for prevention modeled after children’s services. Kay did some reworking of words and sent to everyone via email with the changes. She wondered if we wouldn’t be better served if we defined where some of the data comes from that Mel put in the letter. Mel agreed that it is a good point to verify sources. Renee suggested defining baby boomers with an age/year and that he may want to have actual, current data instead of estimated 2005 data. Mel will follow up on those items. Allen mentioned that they provide services to those ages 18 and up in some cases for disabled adults, not just baby boomers. Dale would like to keep it from sounding as if the Department is the be all, end all of adult services because there are services provided throughout the state from other agencies (DCH, AAA, etc.)

 

Kay said that if this need isn’t addressed the adult services might as well be eliminated. Mel mentioned that we should include a prevention procedure for adult services like we have for children’s services.

 

Dale motioned to approve legislative priority relative to adult services. Seconded. Motion carried.

 

IV.       New Business

A.        Legislation

1.         HB 5282 & 5283 (Tiebarred) – HB 5282 amends the Insurance Code to created a new Chapter 37A to regulate individual (as opposed to group) health benefit plans. HB 5283 amends the Nonprofit Healthcare Corporation Reform Act which regulates Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to specify that BCBSM is subject to the new Chapter 37A. Passed House 89-17; now in the Senate. Dale MacDonald moved to support. Seconded. Motion carried.

2.         HB 5284 & 5285 – 5284 would amend the Nonprofit Health Care Corporation Reform Act (MCL 550.1202 et al.), which regulates Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan.  The bill would specify that a subsidiary of BCBSM could market or transact any type of insurance described in Chapter 6 of the Insurance Code if authorized by a certificate of authority granted to it by the commissioner. The bill also amends the Section 202 of the act. 5284 would amend the Nonprofit Health Care Corporation Reform Act (MCL 550.1202 et al.), which regulates Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan.  The bill would specify that a subsidiary of BCBSM could market or transact any type of insurance described in Chapter 6 of the Insurance Code if authorized by a certificate of authority granted to it by the commissioner. Passed House; now in the Senate.

 

Mel said that BCBS is one of the strongest lobbying groups in the state. Liz Krause moved to oppose. Seconded. Motion carried.

 

B.         Legislative Priorities

1.         Mel wrote a legislative priority regarding the elimination of poverty. Everyone agreed that it sounded good. Dale moved to support this priority. Seconded. Motion carried.

 

IV.       Adjournment at 2:45pm by Kay Andrzejak.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jamie Cripe

ADULT AND HEALTH SERVICES COMMITTEE

MEETING OF FEBRUARY 19, 2008

 

AGENDA

 

I.                    Call to order at 1:00pm

II.                 Disposition of the minutes of January 21, 2008

A.        Agenda update

 

III.       Reports

A.                 DHS Central Office

B.                 DCH Central Office

C.                 MCSSW

D.                 MCSSA

E.                  AAA Association

 

IV.       Unfinished Business

A.                 Adult Business

 

B.                 Health Business

 

V.        New Business

            A.        Adult Legislation

                        1.         HB 5669

                        2.         HB 5726

                        3.         HB 5728

            B.         Health Legislation

                        1.         HB 5577

VI.       Adjournment