HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_0278time. They can save dollars this way. Originally they had
budgeted a second speech therapist for three days a week, but they
will not need this position. Instead, they hired a full-time
person that was budgeted and will use contract speech therapy. in
addition they are asking to increase their part-time nursing
positions which are under 20 hrs. per week (no benefits) and budget
what was 8 hrs. a week to a total of 32 hrs. a week. The current
cost for this proposal (social worker & public health nurse pt -
time) is about $21,519. If this is approved, Ms. Blaufuss stated
that the health department would begin notifying Mrs. Blumen stein
for further budget amendments.
MOTION by Commissioner Madison to approve this request and
make it Budget Amendment #12 for $21,519 which will be offset by
additional home health patient fees.
VOTING: Ayes - 4; Nays - 0.
MANDATE REDUCTION RESOLUTION REQUEST: "HEALTH CARE - USE OF
GENERIC DRUGS FOR MEDICAID RECIPIENTS." This request by the Gaston
County Board of Commissioners was on the August 3 agenda. It was
requested at that time that it be sent to the Board of Health for
their comments. On September 9 they reviewed the resolution and
recommended that the commissioners sign it and forward to the
proper agencies.
MOTION by Commissioner Madison to adopt the resolution.
VOTING: Ayes - 4; Nays - 0.
MANDATE REDUCTION REQUEST: HEALTH CARE - USE
OF GENERIC DRUGS FOR MEDICAID RECIPIENTS
WHEREAS, today our entire country, both private and public
sectors, is being faced with ever increasing health care costs that
adversely impact the taxpayer by having to continually pay for the
increases to fund such programs as Medicaid; and,
WHEREAS, the health care crisis was brought to light with one
of the major emphasis of the new administration being to address
this issue and determine ways to provide cost effective, quality
health care for all citizens of the United States; and,
WHEREAS, the President has formed the Health Care Reform
Committee chaired by Hillary Rodham Clinton to present proposals to
the President and Congress concerning health care reform; and
WHEREAS, the Iredell County Board of Commissioners has
spearheaded an effort to curtail government mandates and under
current North Carolina law regulating Medicaid reimbursements (one
of the largest government mandated programs) requiring that
prescriptions for Medicaid participants be filled with a generic
equivalent unless the physician writes in his own handwriting
"dispense as written"; and,
WHEREAS, generic drugs related to an average savings of 30% to
5o8 per prescription, which would produce significant savings in
funding the Medicaid program; however this savings is not being
realized by North Carolina due to the fact that some health care
providers require that name brand drugs be used rather than its
generic equivalent; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Iredell County Board of
commissiones that in an effort to reduce overall government cost
and to assist North Carolina and Iredell County taxpayers to lessen
the mandated burdens as related to Medicaid funding, the Board
feels it fitting and proper to recommend to the National Health
Care Reform Committee and to State of North Carolina:
1. Review current laws relating to dispensing of
pharmaceutical items paid for by Medicaid funds
and require that generic equivalent drugs (if
available) be dispensed instead of the more
expensive name brand drugs.
SEP 11993 261