HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_0408 (2)health department can negotiate with another non-profit
organization to take over the home health program. Iredell
Memorial Hospital has stated they will continue with the same
philosophy the health department has maintained in this program.
Mr. Carney distributed information listing the pro's and con's
of the bidding procedure. Commissioner Stewart mentioned that
there was no guarantee that the private agency who might buy the
home health program would not sell it to another agency. In
response to a question from Commissioner Madison, health staff said
there is a 7% indigent care in this program, which represents about
$65,000 in non -reimbursed care, according to home health staff.
These are people who do not qualify for any program, "fall through
the cracks," so to speak, health department staff said.
Mr. Bill Pope addressed the certificate of need. It was his
understanding that the certificate of need goes out of existence.
Mr. Arnold Nunnery was present and said that he had contacted the
Raleigh offices in regard to a certificate of need if Iredell
Memorial takes over the home health care. He said in answer to his
inquiry, he had received a letter from the Certificate of Need
office in Raleigh stating that the hospital would not need to file
a certificate of need application if Iredell Memorial Hospital
takes over the home health program.
Chairman Haire inquired if bidding could be limited to the
three hospitals in the county. Mr. Pope said it is doubtful that
it could be limited; however, he would need to research the matter
before giving a definite answer.
Commissioner Madison said his concerns were about the
performance of an agency who would receive the service from the
county. He inquired if there was a performance bond that could be
required of an agency who would take over the service. Mr. Pope
said it might be possible to obtain a performance bond, but he has
never seen a performance bond on any kind of contract except a
construction contract. He did not know if an insurance company
could be found that would issue such a performance bond.
Susan Blumenstein said a pre -approved bid list can be used,
but the person preparing the list would need to be someone other
than a staff member, because there might be a lot more
considerations involved than what is normally considered in a
bidding activity.
Commissioner Stewart inquired who would enforce or determine
if the criteria under the bond was being carried out. Mr. Pope
said the court would be the final determiner of whether or not the
performance bond was being carried out.
MOTION from Commissioner Stewart stating because she believed
the health board has given this matter a good bit of attention and
has studied this issue thoroughly, she would make a motion that the
board approve the recommendation to transfer the home health
program to Iredell Memorial Hospital with negotiations for the
transfer costs to be worked out by staff.
Commissioner Madison said he sat in on a number of the
meetings regarding this situation, and agree with the results of
the health board. The consultants have said this could be bid even
though it has not been done before in North Carolina. He has a
problem with establishing a market value for this service. He said
he did not want to be unfair with the other agencies who wish to
provide this service. There are a lot of options available and he
wanted to see it done in a fair manner and let the market set the
value of the service. He thought the bid process would be the only
true way to establish the value of the service.
Commissioner Boone said he had been approached by quite a few
people about this but it was not on the agenda and he would like
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