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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 11-04-1998 - 9bOrange County Board of Commissioners Agenda Item Abstract Meeting Date: November 4, 1998 SUBJECT: NC Health Choice Plan for Orange County Department (s): Social Services and Health ATTACHMENT (S): Health Choice Plan (under separate cover) Outreach Allocation Notice Hillsborough - 732 -8181 Purpose: Action Agenda Item # C) -b INFORMATION CONTACT: Marti Pryor -Cook, DSS Director Rosemary Summers, Health Director TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Durham -688-7331 Mebane -227-2031 Chapel Hill - 967- 9251/968 -4501 To approve the Plan to implement the new children's insurance program, NC Health Choice, in Orange County, establishing 2 positions (1 permanent full time and 1 time limited for 1 year, from the date filled). Background: Congress passed Federal Legislation that created the opportunity for states to help provide health insurance to 10.6 million children across the country in 1997. The North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation to establish the NC Health Insurance Program for Children on May 7, 1998. The State goal is to provide health coverage to 139,000 uninsured children in North Carolina. It is estimated that 1,000 or more uninsured children in Orange County are eligible for this program or the Medicaid program. The directors of DSS, the Health Department, and Piedmont Health Services organized a local task force in August 1998 to develop an implementation plan to educate the public and families about the program. The task force included the major providers of services to children under the age of 19. Thirty individuals, representing twenty -five community organizations, participated in developing the attached implementation plan for Orange County. A summary of the plan is as follows: 2 Objectives of the elan • To identify families whose children are potentially eligible for Health Check (Medicaid for children) and to educate them about enrollment procedures and program benefits. • To provide outreach materials and activities to community resources to assist them in promoting enrollment and utilization of Health Check and Health Choice. • To educate family and youth about child health and wellness to encourage risk reduction for children and youth. • To inform families about the existing statewide hotline, which offers information, referrals, and advocacy, services. Eligibility for the program NC Health Choice is a comprehensive health insurance program for uninsured children under age 19 in families earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level ($32,900 for a family of 4). The Orange County Department of Social Services is responsible for accepting applications, determining eligibility for the program, and collecting required fees. All applications must be assessed for Medicaid eligibility, as well. Benefits to children This health insurance program covers both outpatient and inpatient health care services. The coverage plan is similar to that of the State Employee's Health Plan. In addition, basic dental , vision, and hearing services are provided. Staff and resources to implement the program • Implementation of Health Choice will have a significant impact on DSS workloads since the more effective the outreach, the greater the number of applicants to the program. Therefore, the task force recommends that 1 full time permanent caseworker position and 1 time - limited (1 year) caseworker position be created to handle this program in a way that responds in a timely manner to the needs of eligible children. Timeliness is critical since this is a first come, first served program due to the funding cap. Unlike Medicaid, Health Choice is not an entitlement program. • It may be necessary to request that OCIM and IFC establish a small fund to pay the enrollment fee for hardship cases. Such a fund will insure that the yearly $50 or $100 enrollment fee is not a barrier for children who need health insurance. Budget The full cost of the 2 positions will be paid from federal and state funds. In addition, the Department keeps all enrollment fees to assist with program administration costs. Funding for projected start- up expenditures not covered by federal and state funds are available in the Department's current budget. The Health Department has received a state grant of $1,497 to assist with the cost of outreach activities. 3 Recommendation: The Manager recommends approval of the Health Choice Plan which includes the creation of 2 positions, one full -time permanent caseworker, and 1 time limited caseworker position for one year; and acceptance of the state grant of $1,497 for outreach activities. a . swr o North Carolina -g t Department of Health and Human Services 4 Division of Women's and Children's Health 1330 St. Mary's Street - Post Office Box 29597 - Raleigh, North Carolina 27626 -0597 - Courier 56 -20 -11 °` ---•"� James B. Hunt Jr., Governor - H. David Bruton, M.D., Secretary - Ann F. Wolfe, M.D., M.P.H., Director September 91998 MEMORANDUM To: Local Health Directors Local Social Services Directors From: Tom Vitaglione "�d-r+n, Y Re: Outreach Allocations As noted earlier, $200,000 has been identified to support in part the efforts of your local Outreach Coalitions to identify children for enrollment in both Health Check and NC Health Choice. The allocation formula distributes $50,000 to each county on an equal basis ($500 per county), and the remaining $150,000 based on the county's percentage of the 71,342 children estimated to be eligible for NC Health Choice. For administrative efficiency, funds will be made available through the "child health" component of health department contracts with the Division of Women's and Children's Health. This will allow for immediate expenditures, even before contract budget revisions are processed. Please note that health department budget revisions and a "Scope of Services" indicating how these funds will be used for outreach purposes should be sent to Carol Tant in our Division. Expenditures should be jointly planned by your Outreach Coalition. Expenditures can be made for virtually anything that enhances outreach efforts. We know that your outreach efforts will go far beyond these small allocations. Nevertheless, we hope these funds will be helpful as we seek to enhance access to health insurance for our children. TV /nl c: DWCH — Division Management Team and NC Health Choice Staff DMA NC Health Choice Management Team DSS — Kevin Fitzgerald and John Tanner Healthy Start Foundation — Health Check/NC Health Choice Campaign Office North Carolina Family Health Resource Line Regional DWCH Social Work and Child Health Nurse Consultants Medicaid Program Representatives Dennis Harrington, Chief of Local Health Services 101 f� , North CarvUnx Host of the 1999 Special O&Mpw World Sr -Mer Games Children Eligible Percent Eligible County for Health Choice for Health Choice Funding Alamance 834 1.2% $ 2,254 Alexander 298 0.4% $ 1,127 Alleghany 113 0.2% $ 738 Anson 426 0.6% $ 1,396 Ashe 339 0.5°x6 $ 1,213 Avery 192 0.3% $ 904 Beaufort 566 0.8% $ 1,690 Bertie 394 0.6% $ 1,328 Bladen 519 0.7% $ 1,591 Brunswick 955 1.3% $ 2,508 Buncombe 1901 2.7% $ 4,497 Burke 906 1.3°x6 $ 2,405 Cabarrus 973 1.4% $ 2,546 Caldwell 822 1.2% $ 2,228 Camden 64 0.1% $ 635 Carteret 610 0.9% $ 1,783 Caswell 179 0.3°x6 $ 876 Catawba 1238 1.7% $ 3,103 Chatham 333 0.5% $ 1,200 Cherokee 327 0.5% $ 1,188 Chowan 182 0.3% $ 883 Clay 85 0.1% $ 679 Cleveland 951 1.3% $ 2,500 Columbus 1096 1.5% $ 2,804 Craven 806 1.1% $ 2,195 Cumberland 2730 3.8% $ 6,240 Currituck 146 0.2% $ 807 Dare 217 0.3% $ 956 Davidson 1382 1.9% $ 3,406 Davie 249 0.3% $ 1,024 Duplin 597 0.8% $ 1,755 Durham 1367 1.9% $ 3,374 Edgecombe 998 1.4% $ 2,598 Forsyth 1802 2.5% $ 4,289 Franklin 498 0.7% $ 1,547 Gaston 1292 1.8% $ 3,216 Gates 118 0.2% $ 748 Graham 112 0.2% $ 735 Granville 405 0.6% $ 1,352 Greene 246 0.3% $ 1,017 Guilford 3030 4.2% $ 6,871 Halifax 707 1.0% $ 1,987 Hamett 972 1.4% $ 2,544 Haywood 597 0.8% $ 1,755 Henderson 805 1.1% $ 2,193 Hertford 414 0.6% $ 1,370 Children Eligible Percent Eligible 6 County for Health Choice for Health Choice Funding Hoke 413 0.6% $ 1,368 Hyde 69 0.1% $ 645 Iredell 971 1.4% $ 2,542 Jackson 368 0.5% $ 1,274 Johnston 1007 1.4% $ 2,617 Jones 162 0.2% $ 841 Lee 606 0.8% $ 1,774 Lenoir 764 1.1% $ 2,106 Lincoln 434 0.6% $ 1,413 Macon 365 0.5% $ 1,267 Madison 199 0.3% $ 918 Martin 320 0.4% $ 1,173 McDowell 440 0.6% $ 1,425 Mecklenburg 3981 5.6% $ 8,870 Mitchell 142 0.2% $ 799 Montgomery 346 0.5% $ 1,227 Moore 663 0.9°x6 $ 1,894 Nash 863 1.2% $ 2,314 New Hanover 1258 1.8% $ 3,145 Northampton 384 0.5% $ 1,307 Onslow 1308 1.8% $ 3,250 Orange 474 0.7% $ 1,497 Pamlico 141 0.2% $ 796 Pasquotank 464 0.7% $ 1,476 Pender 467 0.7% $ 1,482 Perquimans 155 0.2% $ 826 Person 323 0.5% $ 1,179 Pitt 1164 1.6% $ 2,947 Polk 137 0.2% $ 788 Randolph 1181 1.7% $ 2,983 Richmond 708 1.0% $ 1,989 Robeson 2123 3.0% $ 4,964 Rockingham 764 1.1% $ 2,106 Rowan 1182 1.7% $ 2,985 Rutherford 568 0.8% $ 1,694 Sampson 783 1.1% $ 2,146 - Scotland 622 0.9°x6 $ 1,808 Stanly 666 0.9% $ 1,900 Stokes 369 0.5% $ 1,276 Sury 653 0.9% $ 1,873 Swain 166 0.2% $ 849 Transylvania 302 0.4% $ 1,135 Tyrrell 63 0.1% $ 632 Union 942 1.3% $ 2,481 Vance 703 1.0% $ 1,978 Wake 3079 4.3% $ 6,974 Children Eligible Percent Eligible County for Health Choice for Health Choice Funding Warren 241 0.3% $ 1,007 Washington 217 0.3% $ 956 Watauga 278 0.4% $ 1,085 Wayne 1230 1.7% $ 3,086 Wilkes 698 1.0% $ 1,968 Wilson 1114 1.6% $ 2,842 Yadkin 315 0.4% $ 1,162 Yancey 195 0.3% $ 910 State Total 71342 100.0°x6 $ 200,002