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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