Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-04-2000-9fORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 4, 2000 Action Agenda Item No. ~^ SUBJECT: NC Health Choice Coordinator Position--Conversion from Time Limited to Permanent Status DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): None Marti Pryor-Cook, Director Ext. 2802 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 958-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider converting the existing time limited Health Choice Coordinator position to a regulaz permanent position. BACKGROUND: The Health Choice Coordinator position currently is vacant. It is important that this position be filled as soon as possible to insure that children continue to get enrolled and re-enrolled in the program on a timely basis. The implication of not filling this position is that many eligible children will not be enrolled nor re-enrolled in the Health Choice program in a timely manner. They will also not have the resources to secure non-emergency health raze services. Since the position is presently time limited through July 2000, it is difficult to recruit and fill this position. Therefore, the Boazd of Commissioners is asked to approve converting the position from atime-limited status to a permanent status. In 1998, the NC General Assembly approved state funding to draw down federal dollazs to provide health insurance for children up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. A local Planning Committee, representing over 24 agencies and organizations, guided the development of the Health Choice program in the Orange County. The Committee recommended that the program be staffed with afull- time permanent case manager and atime-limited Coordinator. This level of staffing was recommended as a pilot initiative to provide staff an opportunity to determine the number of children eligible for the program, the requirements necessary to assist children to remain insured, and the resources needed to maintain the program. Since implementation in November 1998, Orange County DSS has enrolled 590 children in Health Choice. During this same period, approximately 650 additional children have been certified and enrolled in the Medicaid program. This means that over 1200 new children are now able to visit a health care provider and receive needed health services in Orange County. Applications are taken at various sites in the County, including DSS and the Health Department. One of the greatest challenges currently facing the program is insuring that these children continue to maintain their eligibility for health insurance coverage, either Medicaid or Health Choice. Families are required to re-enroll their children annually an their anniversary date far Health Choice and every b months to a year for Medicaid. The pilot initiative demonstrated that at a minimum two full-time positions are needed to meet the state and federal requirements for each program, and to insure that potentially eligible families receive the necessary information to get their children enrolled. Some of the specific responsibilities of the two positions aze as follows: Health Choice Coordinator 1. Receives and Processes all initial applications for the Health Choice program 2. Determines eligibility for either Health Choice or Medicaid, based on family income and size. 3. Supervises outreach activities to insure that community agencies, health care providers, and employers have current information about the program, its benefits, and eligibility requirements. 4. Trains workers in community sites to assist parents to complete the 4-page application. 5. Contact parents, telephone and home visits, to collect necessary information when it is not provided with the application. b. Serves as liaison between DSS and the Division of Medical Assistance, pazents, and community agencies; providing information and problem-solving assistance, as appropriate. 7. Completes state and local reports and files paperwork with appropriate agencies in timely manner. Health Choice Casemanager 1. Receives and processes all applications for re-enrollment in Health Choice 2. Processes yeazly reviews for new (590) Medicaid children who entered system through Health Choice 3. Determines continued eligibility for Health Choice re-enrollments and Medicaid 4. Contacts parents, telephone and home visits, to collect eligibility information when applications aze not complete. 5. Completes necessary reports and files paperwork with the appropriate agency in a timely manner. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The position is funded 100 percent with state and federal funds. This funding is in place for Fiscal Year 2000/2001. It is anticipated that this level of funding will be available for the duration of the program. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Boazd approve converting the Health Choice position from atime-limited status to a full-time permanent status.