HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-06-15 Health Center Committee MinutesHealth Center Committee
June 15, 1984 at 9:00 a.m.
Minutes
Present: Councilor Edgar Brown, Chairman
Councilor Jim Cox
Councilor Marshall Frankel _
/John Flynn, City Manager
TedJellison, Finance. -Director---- -' "''"-
Judy"Roscetti,, Administrator., Nursing Facility
'$tiaran Minor, Nurai(g' Facility
Mary -Anne Chalila Director, Health b Welfare
Carol Williams, Dental Clinic
Robert MCKeaguey, Deputy Commissioner,
Department Of Human Services
Mike Lamoreau, Department of Human Services
Robert McReagney, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Human Services
was invited to the meeting at the request of the Health Center Committee.
Councilor Brown expressed his concerns to Mr. McReagney about what the
City feels was an unreasonable length of time for auditing and settling
the Nursing Facilities 1981 and 1982 Cost Reports. 1981's report was
filed in March 1982 and not completed until May of 1964. Funds due the
City of Bangor of $106,808 for FY 81 and 82 were not received until
June 1984. This placed an unnecessary burden on the City. Mr. McKeagney
agreed with Councilor Brown and the other members that this was indeed
an unreasonable delay especially in light of the amount of money involved.
He explained some of the constraints the auditing department is working
under; being short staffed, the complicated nature of many of the Coat
Reports filed by facilities and indeed the complicated nature of the
City's Cost Report. He felt the auditor was hampered by some of the
records being at City Hall and mixed in with other City Departments.
There was also a waiting period in August 83 after the field audit
for information from the facility. He admitted these were all excuses
and there should not have been such a'delay. He assured the Committee
that am ore timely completion of Cost Reports could be expected in the
future.There was a brief discussion on what timeframe more timely was.
Councilor Frankel suggested since the facility has three months -to
prepare the report that the State also have three months in which to
audit it. Mr. McKeagney felt in an uncomplicated report this would be
very reasonable. In a more complicated report this may take a bit longer.
Mr. McKeagney expressed his feelings. that the State and the City
could work together in providing the service needed to the citizens of
Maine and that Bangor, being a larger municipality, serves a region
rather than just those within the City limits. He hoped in the future
that the City and State would work together in resolving common problems.
He further indicated that he felt the State in the past had been very
understanding of the problems facing the Bangor Nursing Facility and had
made concessions to the City. The Committee agreed with Mr. McKeagney
on this matter.
Mrs. Roacetti stated that the City was contemplating requesting
an exception to the ceiling on routine service
coats to Medicare.
She stated that information on costs from other facilities would be
necessary inorder to do a comparative analysis. She asked if this
information could be made available. Mike Lamoreau stated this was
available in Augusta. He suggested a trip to Augusta to look through
files of other facilities and then requested some specific info to
copy would be preferable than a blanket copy of cost reports from these
facilities.
The Committee thanked Mr. MCHeagney for coming and for his positive
attitude and he was then given a tour_ Qf the Facility.
The Committee then discussed the preparation of the Nursing
Facility's FY84Cost reports. Mrs. Roscetti suggested that the
facility should appeal the ceiling on routine service
osis for Skilled
Care to Medicare. To do this she felt w would eneed added assistance
by an accounting. firm and possibly legal advise. It would seem most
beneficial to have the same firm that prepares the Cost Reports also
help with the appeal. She indicated she had spoken to Affiliated
Health Care Management and also to the firm of Berry, Dunn and McNeil
about this and.theysuggested that an appeal to a federal agency can be
complibatedand-that the Facility should get the moat expertise as
possible. The more expertise the firm has the leas time would be
required by them to compile needed': information. It was determined that
this should go out to bid and the Committee suggested that management
submit a proposal to the Committee.
Mary -Anne Chalila and Carol Williams asked the Committee's
permission to submit the grant renewal for the School Dental Health
Program. The amount of the grant application is $5,000. It was
explained to the Committee that the amount of money the City gets is
based on the percentage of the total school anrollment who participate
n the program. There is $1,000 in the grantearmarked for the con-
tracting of an additional hygienist in the schools. The Committee
approved submitting the grant application. Councilor Brown expressed
concern about non -Bangor residents benefiting from the program in
the private/parochial schools served.
Me