HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_0554Mr. wall said he continuously hears about health reform; however,
this doesn't address Medicaid/Medicare. He doesn't know of
anything. Since Eisenhower's administration people have talked
about reform. It's his opinion that, "most of the time when people
try to tinker with the system it gets worse." He is optimistic
about the JOBS Program. This is North Carolina's method of reform.
Some people are getting off the welfare rolls. Around 608 of the
people on welfare are only recipients for about two years or less.
About 208 are hard-core -- they've been on welfare for a long time.
Then too, there is recidivism, people go off and then back on
welfare.
In reference to medicaid, commissioner Hamby asked if the county
was paying for AIDS cases?
Mr. Wall stated the County was paying five percent of all the
charges in the medicaid program associated with AIDS cases.
Commissioner Boone said he had heard there were 55 HIV Positive
cases in Iredell County.
Mr. Wall said that most of the medicaid money was going back into
Iredell County through grocery stores, doctors' offices, etc.
Commissioner Boone said, with all due respect, this really didn't
justify the matter. The board of commissioners could set their
salaries at $100,000 per year and say that everyone planned on
spending the money in the community. Anytime there is a transfer
of money from one person to another -- the one that gets the money
is going to spend it somewhere. You're just transferring money
from the people that earned it to people who didn't earn it for
them to spend as they choose to do so.
commissioner Boone asked about a position that was approved in
December that was supposed to be a Pregnancy Prevention Counselor.
It was a partially state paid position. Mr. Boone asked about any
progress this staff person was making.
Mr. Wall was unclear about this position, and Mr. Boone said he
would research his information and bring it back up in the future.
The DSS budget was left as per the county manager's
recommendations.
MOTION by Commissioner Boone to instruct the staff to eliminate the
Health Educator I position.
VOTING: Ayes - 4; Nays - 1 (Hamby)
550 EMS: The county manager reminded everyone of the need for a
Troutman base. The proposal that has been made included more than
a space for housing. It included a training room and the
possibility of locating the EMS office to this site. It also
included the elimination of one backup vehicle. The current fleet
size includes six operating units, one QRV, and two staff vehicles.
This would free up some space near the Hall of Justice. It is the
county manager's recommendation to eliminate the $260,000 for this
request and set up $100,000 in capital reserve to address the need
this year. A specific plan is not ready, but Mr. Mashburn said the
request would be designated a priority.
Blumenstein mentioned that collections will be down about $60,000
this year. The reason is because medicare has changed the amount
that is reimburseable on certain trips. Medicare feels that not
everything requires advanced life support, which is the county's
level.
Blumenstein said it costs about $330 to just drive an ambulance.
Mr. Mashburn mentioned that many of the EMS calls are just for
transfers. They are not emergency related, but it still costs the
same. The possibility of contracting out nonemergency transfers
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