Sorry this blog is so late. Due to personal family reasons, last week was very crazy for me and next week may be the same. As such, this will be a short blog.
The Ingham County Commission met this week. The only resolution that we passed which was controversial was permanently allowing the Fair Board to offer an Adult Refreshment Tent (with beer and wine) at the Ingham County Fair. As was raised in committee, none of the predicted problems have happened over the last two years. No drunken people causing mischief, no public safety problems, no drunk driving, etc. In fact, there have been no problems at all with this. Commissioner Vickers said that the fair has the 4-H and it is not a proper venue for a beer tent. Commissioner Koenig responded that there hasn't been a problem. Commissioner Bahar-Cook added that she patronized the refreshment tent, and the staff did a great job of IDing those that entered the tent and of watching the drinking. I also added that this is an option that can be used to attract to people to the fair, which was mentioned to me by constituents. Commissioner Dougan then weighed in and said that this is not an option to raise money that he supports. The resolution passed on a bi-partisan vote with 11 Commissioners voting yes (10 Democrats and 1 Republican) and Commissioners Dougan, Vickers, Schafer, Celentino, and Copedge voting no (3 GOP and 2 Dems).http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
In non-controversial votes, the Board took a position calling on the federal government not to shut down the landing rights for Sun Country Airlines, which flies from Lansing to DC. We also authorized over $3 million to go to the Ingham Health Plan Corporation for health care benefits to those without health insurance through the Ingham Health Plan.
On the campaign trail, everything continues to go very well. I have been meeting with neighborhood groups and other groups in Lansing and Lansing Township. More and more people (electeds, neighborhood leaders, unions, business leaders,http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif etc) are signing on to my campaign every week. Fundraising is going very well, and we have our next fundraiser on March 14th in Lansing (check it out here on facebook!). If you want to contribute, sign up to volunteer to knock doors or help out otherwise, have a lawn sign outside your house or business, or just keep up with the campaign...you can go to and click on the appropriate link.
Thanks everyone for all your support! I will keep fighting for Ingham County residents on the County Commission, and look forward to the opportunity to fight for Lansing are residents in the Michigan House of Representatives!
Andy
Showing posts with label ingham health plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ingham health plan. Show all posts
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Fundraiser, Budget, Ingham Health Plan, Health and Zoo Directors, DSH Payment, Veterinarian
Welcome back to the Schor Blog. Sorry for the two week delay!
First, a political note: I invite everyone to my next fundraiser for my State Representative campaign. It is tomorrow (Thursday) from 5:30 - 7:30 at the home of Commissioner Penelope Tsernoglou and Steve Ross at 1197 Prescott in East Lansing. For more details, go to www.andyschor.com.
Now, on to the County Issues...
At the Board meeting, we were given our Controller Recommended Budget. After months of hearing budget projections, meetings with countywide elected officials and department heads at the County, and discussions of direction for staff to take in drafting a budget we now have a starting document. And because our Controller is the best in the state (nation? world?), this is likely going to be very close to the final product. We will now start on budget discussions, with each committee holding budget hearings and the Finance committee (which I chair) putting it all together and recommending a final product for the Board to consider in October. Should be an interesting few months as we solve a $5.5 million budget deficit.
At the Board meeting, we passed several important resolutions. One resolution we passed authorizes a Public Health Service Agreement for 2011-2012 with the Ingham
Health Plan Corporation (IHPC). For those that don't know, we contract with the IHPC to provide public health services to low income residents of Ingham County. The IHPC amount this year is for services up to $2,603,118. The services include:
- Public Health Nursing
- Adult Dental
- Outreach and Enrollment
- Support for the Ingham Community Health Center Network
The Ingham Health Plan is a tremendous success in providing health care to the uninsured. If you are unfamiliar, go to www.ingham.org and follow the page to the Health Department and you can get all the info. I am very proud of this program and our support for it.
We also transferred funds to the State of Michigan for the purpose of supporting
Disproportionate Share Hospital (DHS) payments to Ingham Regional Medical Center and Sparrow Health System. The federal government allows for an “Indigent Care Agreements Pool” for hospitals which qualify for Medicaid Disproportionate Share (“DSH”)payments and allows them to receive DSH payments under the Indigent Care Agreements Pool so long as: (a) the hospital had an Indigent Care Agreement with a local health care entity, such as Ingham Health Plan Corporation; and (b) the Indigent Care Agreement stipulated that direct or indirect health care services be provided to low-income patients with special needs who are not covered under other public or private health care programs. Both Ingham Regional Medical
Center and Sparrow Health are qualified to receive these special payments.
The Ingham Health Plan Corporation was created in 1998 as a non-profit corporation for the purposes of promoting, arranging, and managing an effective system of health care in a manner which decreases the cost of health care services to the community at large and persons unable to pay for such care. The Corporation also supports certain public health services which are directed at low-income, uninsured persons, including services delivered by the Ingham County Health Department. We transferred up to $3.8 million for the year from the Health Fund to support Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments to Ingham Regional Medical Center and Sparrow Health System.
The Board also passed a resolution calling on the State Legislature to oppose efforts to make Michigan a right-to-work state. After hearing that other counties were providing resolutions (both for and against), we decided Ingham County should weigh in to ensure that our legislators and our countywide association know the opinions of the elected commissioners of Ingham County. There was no discussion on the Board floor, and the resolution passed on a 13-2 vote. The resolution (and all others) can be read here.
We passed a resolution to form a special committee to look at hiring a new Health Director. Unfortunately, our Health Director - Dean Sienko - is retiring. He has been tremendous as a Health Director, and will be missed. We have a world class Health Department due to his leadership, and he will be hard to replace. The task force has a tough job ahead of them. We are also going to have to replace the director of the Potter Park Zoo. We learned that Gerry Brady is retiring and we will need to fill that post as well. Tough times, but new leadership is always an opportunity for new ideas and innovation!
The final resolution I will mention is the hiring of a part-time veterinarian. Ingham County Animal Control has historically contracted for veterinary services at the shelter to examine and treat sick and injured animals and prescribe medications. The annual renewal of the contract has always been tenuous as few, if any, applicants apply. We had persuaded a local veterinarian to apply until a more permanent vendor could be contracted; however, that permanent vendor has eluded us. Each time the position is up for renewal it struggles to attract candidates based
on the wage amount, hours and contract requirements. The current vendor (veterinarian) accepted the bid on a short term basis simply to help the shelter
out. However, due to his busy practice he has expressed his desire to opt out but will continue until a replacement is found. However, he proposed to double the current contract. We couldn't accept that, so we decided to hire a part-time veterinarian (instead of contracting) for 20 hours per week. We included in the job description spaying and neutering of animals and other medical procedures to be required as part of the service conducted at the shelter at no additional cost. Animal Control will have the equipment and facilities to conduct such treatments. In addition to creating a more stable position, it ensures better training of animal care staff by a veterinarian, increases the quality of care, provides much needed veterinary care of the high volume of sick injured and abused animals brought into the county’s animal shelter, and results in long term savings on funds and resources currently spent on injured animal care, surgical, spay/neuter and veterinary costs.
I will remind those that read this blog by getting the facebook email that facebook is eliminating the group at some point. So, if you want to continue to get notifications, please "like" my facebook fan page. You can go here to do it - http://www.facebook.com/#!/andyschor.
I hope you have a great week!
First, a political note: I invite everyone to my next fundraiser for my State Representative campaign. It is tomorrow (Thursday) from 5:30 - 7:30 at the home of Commissioner Penelope Tsernoglou and Steve Ross at 1197 Prescott in East Lansing. For more details, go to www.andyschor.com.
Now, on to the County Issues...
At the Board meeting, we were given our Controller Recommended Budget. After months of hearing budget projections, meetings with countywide elected officials and department heads at the County, and discussions of direction for staff to take in drafting a budget we now have a starting document. And because our Controller is the best in the state (nation? world?), this is likely going to be very close to the final product. We will now start on budget discussions, with each committee holding budget hearings and the Finance committee (which I chair) putting it all together and recommending a final product for the Board to consider in October. Should be an interesting few months as we solve a $5.5 million budget deficit.
At the Board meeting, we passed several important resolutions. One resolution we passed authorizes a Public Health Service Agreement for 2011-2012 with the Ingham
Health Plan Corporation (IHPC). For those that don't know, we contract with the IHPC to provide public health services to low income residents of Ingham County. The IHPC amount this year is for services up to $2,603,118. The services include:
- Public Health Nursing
- Adult Dental
- Outreach and Enrollment
- Support for the Ingham Community Health Center Network
The Ingham Health Plan is a tremendous success in providing health care to the uninsured. If you are unfamiliar, go to www.ingham.org and follow the page to the Health Department and you can get all the info. I am very proud of this program and our support for it.
We also transferred funds to the State of Michigan for the purpose of supporting
Disproportionate Share Hospital (DHS) payments to Ingham Regional Medical Center and Sparrow Health System. The federal government allows for an “Indigent Care Agreements Pool” for hospitals which qualify for Medicaid Disproportionate Share (“DSH”)payments and allows them to receive DSH payments under the Indigent Care Agreements Pool so long as: (a) the hospital had an Indigent Care Agreement with a local health care entity, such as Ingham Health Plan Corporation; and (b) the Indigent Care Agreement stipulated that direct or indirect health care services be provided to low-income patients with special needs who are not covered under other public or private health care programs. Both Ingham Regional Medical
Center and Sparrow Health are qualified to receive these special payments.
The Ingham Health Plan Corporation was created in 1998 as a non-profit corporation for the purposes of promoting, arranging, and managing an effective system of health care in a manner which decreases the cost of health care services to the community at large and persons unable to pay for such care. The Corporation also supports certain public health services which are directed at low-income, uninsured persons, including services delivered by the Ingham County Health Department. We transferred up to $3.8 million for the year from the Health Fund to support Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments to Ingham Regional Medical Center and Sparrow Health System.
The Board also passed a resolution calling on the State Legislature to oppose efforts to make Michigan a right-to-work state. After hearing that other counties were providing resolutions (both for and against), we decided Ingham County should weigh in to ensure that our legislators and our countywide association know the opinions of the elected commissioners of Ingham County. There was no discussion on the Board floor, and the resolution passed on a 13-2 vote. The resolution (and all others) can be read here.
We passed a resolution to form a special committee to look at hiring a new Health Director. Unfortunately, our Health Director - Dean Sienko - is retiring. He has been tremendous as a Health Director, and will be missed. We have a world class Health Department due to his leadership, and he will be hard to replace. The task force has a tough job ahead of them. We are also going to have to replace the director of the Potter Park Zoo. We learned that Gerry Brady is retiring and we will need to fill that post as well. Tough times, but new leadership is always an opportunity for new ideas and innovation!
The final resolution I will mention is the hiring of a part-time veterinarian. Ingham County Animal Control has historically contracted for veterinary services at the shelter to examine and treat sick and injured animals and prescribe medications. The annual renewal of the contract has always been tenuous as few, if any, applicants apply. We had persuaded a local veterinarian to apply until a more permanent vendor could be contracted; however, that permanent vendor has eluded us. Each time the position is up for renewal it struggles to attract candidates based
on the wage amount, hours and contract requirements. The current vendor (veterinarian) accepted the bid on a short term basis simply to help the shelter
out. However, due to his busy practice he has expressed his desire to opt out but will continue until a replacement is found. However, he proposed to double the current contract. We couldn't accept that, so we decided to hire a part-time veterinarian (instead of contracting) for 20 hours per week. We included in the job description spaying and neutering of animals and other medical procedures to be required as part of the service conducted at the shelter at no additional cost. Animal Control will have the equipment and facilities to conduct such treatments. In addition to creating a more stable position, it ensures better training of animal care staff by a veterinarian, increases the quality of care, provides much needed veterinary care of the high volume of sick injured and abused animals brought into the county’s animal shelter, and results in long term savings on funds and resources currently spent on injured animal care, surgical, spay/neuter and veterinary costs.
I will remind those that read this blog by getting the facebook email that facebook is eliminating the group at some point. So, if you want to continue to get notifications, please "like" my facebook fan page. You can go here to do it - http://www.facebook.com/#!/andyschor.
I hope you have a great week!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Ingham Health Plan, 911 Center Funding
Lots of important issues coming up next week for discussion in committee. County staff continue to put together the budget, but other issues are still on the front-burner and here are a few things coming up:
Human Services and Finance will consider the annual resolution to authorize a public health service agreement with the Ingham Health Plan Corporation. I have written previously about the Ingham Health Plan (IHP). It is a way for the county to provide health care benefits for those without health insurance. The IHP is not actual insurance, but is a plan that Ingham County residents can join to be covered for certain health services. People have to be at a certain funding level, and it has fluctuated between 150% of the poverty level and 250% of the poverty level over the last few years. The County Board had a glidepath to get to 100% coverage of county residents using the IHP for low-income residents (along with a third-share plan for small businesses to offer insurance to employees). We have gone a long way, and are not continuing to try to let residents know about this plan. In my area, this is especially important to many of the folks in the Baker-Donora area, and county staff have used federal grants to knock doors and let people know that they are available for these health benefits. We also work closely with the Baker-Donora Center.
But how is this funded? The federal government has a program that issues dollars called the Disproportionate Hospital Share (DSH) program. Ingham County provides dollars to the federal government, who then matches the county dollars at a 2:1 ratio. The money is then returned to the Ingham Health Plan Board, which is an independent Board. So if we send $1 million to the feds, they return $3 million back to the IHP Corporation. The IHPC then allocates that money as they see fit. They also decide on the rules for eligibility and how the money is spent on programming. It has been a tremendously successful program, and this week we will again approve the contract with the IHPC. purchase public health services provided to low income residents of Ingham County. The IHPC proposes to purchase services for up to $2,647,727. The purchased services include: Public Health Nursing, Adult Dental, Outreach and Enrollment, and Support for the Ingham Community Health Center Network.
Another issue coming up deals with the 911 center funding (which comes from the 911 millage and not from our general fund). With the City of Lansing passing the agreement this week (and East Lansing previously approving it), we are now good to move forward with building the new center. Because the build will happen later this year and be complete and operational in mid to late 2011, we have to approve one more resolution funding two separate centers. That will be before us this week in Law Enforcement and Finance committees. If the cap of 80% of annual 911 revenue is maintained, the appropriation would be at less than the traditional 95% of operational costs. This is due to the fact that the operational budget requests have exceeded the capital projects. The 2009/10 East Lansing contract was $1,502,886. The 2009/10 Lansing contract was $5,230,130.
Staff is providing us with two potential scenarios that we could consider (or we could do something else if we want). The first staff scenario would fund to the two 911 Centers at 95% of their operating budget costs within the 80% CAP limitation. This would fund the East Lansing center at $1,467,672 and the Lansing center at $5,099,162.
The 2010/2011 estimated Ingham County 911 revenue is $8,208,543. The combined Lansing/East Lansing contracts funded at 95% is $6,661,163. 80% of 911 revenue (scenario #1) is $6,566,834. The difference is $94,329, and the cities would have to make that up.
The second scenario is to fully fund the operational contracts at the traditional 95% of operational costs. The East Lansing contract would be for $1,488,755 (an increase of $21,082) and the Lansing contract would be for $5,172,408 (an increase of $73,246). The additional funding would require a supplemental appropriation out of the 911 Emergency Telephone Dispatch Services Management and System Improvements reserve to increase the contracts by the additional $94,329. Should we do that, approximately $1,600,000 will still remain for Management and System Improvements in the reserve fund (after lease and maintenance costs associated with the radio project are factored in). Staff is recommending this option because we are consolidating the centers and all parties have agreed, and the long-term cost saving measure will save funds and maintain the quality of 911 Emergency Telephone Dispatch Services. I tend to agree with this logic, but want to hear more about the reserve balance and I think we need to have a discussion about the 80% policy. Traditionally we have had limits to ensure operations did not overtake capital expenses and to ensure that capital expenses actually happen. We need to ensure that capital items will be maintained after the consolidation. But for now, with a new center being built, I tend to favor the full 95% funding option. Should be a good discussion.
Lots of other stuff going on next week also. So stay tuned for the blog after Finance on Wednesday night or Thursday morning!
P.S. Don't forget...you can get an email sent to you whenever this blog is posted if you sign up in the box on the top right of this blog. Or you can join my facebook group at "Andy Schor, Ingham County Commissioner" and I will send out an update on facebook each week. And feel free to comment on this blog or to email me at aschor@ingham.org or to call me!
Human Services and Finance will consider the annual resolution to authorize a public health service agreement with the Ingham Health Plan Corporation. I have written previously about the Ingham Health Plan (IHP). It is a way for the county to provide health care benefits for those without health insurance. The IHP is not actual insurance, but is a plan that Ingham County residents can join to be covered for certain health services. People have to be at a certain funding level, and it has fluctuated between 150% of the poverty level and 250% of the poverty level over the last few years. The County Board had a glidepath to get to 100% coverage of county residents using the IHP for low-income residents (along with a third-share plan for small businesses to offer insurance to employees). We have gone a long way, and are not continuing to try to let residents know about this plan. In my area, this is especially important to many of the folks in the Baker-Donora area, and county staff have used federal grants to knock doors and let people know that they are available for these health benefits. We also work closely with the Baker-Donora Center.
But how is this funded? The federal government has a program that issues dollars called the Disproportionate Hospital Share (DSH) program. Ingham County provides dollars to the federal government, who then matches the county dollars at a 2:1 ratio. The money is then returned to the Ingham Health Plan Board, which is an independent Board. So if we send $1 million to the feds, they return $3 million back to the IHP Corporation. The IHPC then allocates that money as they see fit. They also decide on the rules for eligibility and how the money is spent on programming. It has been a tremendously successful program, and this week we will again approve the contract with the IHPC. purchase public health services provided to low income residents of Ingham County. The IHPC proposes to purchase services for up to $2,647,727. The purchased services include: Public Health Nursing, Adult Dental, Outreach and Enrollment, and Support for the Ingham Community Health Center Network.
Another issue coming up deals with the 911 center funding (which comes from the 911 millage and not from our general fund). With the City of Lansing passing the agreement this week (and East Lansing previously approving it), we are now good to move forward with building the new center. Because the build will happen later this year and be complete and operational in mid to late 2011, we have to approve one more resolution funding two separate centers. That will be before us this week in Law Enforcement and Finance committees. If the cap of 80% of annual 911 revenue is maintained, the appropriation would be at less than the traditional 95% of operational costs. This is due to the fact that the operational budget requests have exceeded the capital projects. The 2009/10 East Lansing contract was $1,502,886. The 2009/10 Lansing contract was $5,230,130.
Staff is providing us with two potential scenarios that we could consider (or we could do something else if we want). The first staff scenario would fund to the two 911 Centers at 95% of their operating budget costs within the 80% CAP limitation. This would fund the East Lansing center at $1,467,672 and the Lansing center at $5,099,162.
The 2010/2011 estimated Ingham County 911 revenue is $8,208,543. The combined Lansing/East Lansing contracts funded at 95% is $6,661,163. 80% of 911 revenue (scenario #1) is $6,566,834. The difference is $94,329, and the cities would have to make that up.
The second scenario is to fully fund the operational contracts at the traditional 95% of operational costs. The East Lansing contract would be for $1,488,755 (an increase of $21,082) and the Lansing contract would be for $5,172,408 (an increase of $73,246). The additional funding would require a supplemental appropriation out of the 911 Emergency Telephone Dispatch Services Management and System Improvements reserve to increase the contracts by the additional $94,329. Should we do that, approximately $1,600,000 will still remain for Management and System Improvements in the reserve fund (after lease and maintenance costs associated with the radio project are factored in). Staff is recommending this option because we are consolidating the centers and all parties have agreed, and the long-term cost saving measure will save funds and maintain the quality of 911 Emergency Telephone Dispatch Services. I tend to agree with this logic, but want to hear more about the reserve balance and I think we need to have a discussion about the 80% policy. Traditionally we have had limits to ensure operations did not overtake capital expenses and to ensure that capital expenses actually happen. We need to ensure that capital items will be maintained after the consolidation. But for now, with a new center being built, I tend to favor the full 95% funding option. Should be a good discussion.
Lots of other stuff going on next week also. So stay tuned for the blog after Finance on Wednesday night or Thursday morning!
P.S. Don't forget...you can get an email sent to you whenever this blog is posted if you sign up in the box on the top right of this blog. Or you can join my facebook group at "Andy Schor, Ingham County Commissioner" and I will send out an update on facebook each week. And feel free to comment on this blog or to email me at aschor@ingham.org or to call me!
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