HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-17-2015-13 (3) - Information Item - Memorandum Regarding Men's Health Pilot Project INFORMATION ITEM
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MEMORANDUM
To: Bonnie Hammers|ey. Orange County Manager
Orange County Board of County Commissioners
From: Colleen Brid0er. Orange County Health Director
Date: November 11. 2O15
Re: Men's health pilot
In response to a request from the Board of County Commissioners during the budget process, Health
Department staff has been working on an assessment of access to primary care services for low-income men
without insurance. The results of this assessment were shared with the Board of Health at their meeting in
October. |n brief, vve found that there are approximately 2.00O uninsured men living in Northern Orange
County and that 8% of men surveyed during the County's Community Health Assessment indicated difficulty
accessing medical services. The Health Department currently has neither the capacity (staffing or space) nor
the expertise to serve this population for primary care services. Also, vve know from research as well as
experience that men typically access care much later than women do, resulting in fewer wellness visits, and
more disease management/crisis visits. This makes itdifficult to estimate how many men will take advantage
of expanded access to primary care. There is currently one safety-net primary care provider in Southern
Orange County (Piedmont Health Services). Starting in January they will expand their services from 15 exam
rooms in Carrboro and add 9 additional exam rooms in Chapel Hill (near Timberlyne).
As such, staff recommended that the Health Department conduct a pilot project toeupandaooessb» primary
care servioes, for men in the northern half ofthe oounb/, by contracting with an existing primary care provider
to better determine the need for these services.
Specifics of this pilot include:
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Contracting with UNC Physicians Network in Hillsborough for a 6 month pilot
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Limiting the number of visits to2OO
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Limiting the total cost of the pilot to $30.000 with billing done per the Medicaid rate
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Requiring use of the Health Department's sliding fee scale to determine qualification for participation
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Requiring that all patients seen under this agreement not be existing patients of the practice
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Requiring that all patients seen under this agreement who need specialist care or hospitalization be
referred to other sources of charity care such as UNC Hospital
Once this pilot is complete we'll have better information to determine the exact number of men who need this
care, the types of visits/medical issues for which these men are seen and if a permanent expansion of Health
Department staff, space and expertise is needed tomeet these needs orifa less costly solution can befound.
| will share the results of this pilot as part of the budget process inJune. |n the meantime, please let meknow
if you have any questions orconcerns.
9119 24524D0 )�, 3QO West Tryon Street )° Hillsborough, NC27278 * oramgecoemtync.guv