Dukes County Health Council
Public Safety Building, West Tisbury
December 18, 2003
Present:
Andrea Patterson Lorna Andrade Cathy Brennan Jacque Cage
Nancy Gilfoy Peter Strock Paddy Moore Susan Desmarais
Jane Cleare Michael Dutton Tad Crawford Kathy Logue
Ilene J. Klein Sarah Kuh Marni Lipke Patsy McCormack Cynthia Mitchell Jo Ann Murphy Elaine Pace Mary Jane O'Connor-Ropp, Kathy Rose Tim Walsh Michele Lazerow
Also Present: Erin Leighton, E. Winn Davis
Next Meeting: January 29, 2004, 7:30 a.m., at the Public Safety Building.
Kathy Logue announced she will retire December 31, 2003. Tad commended
her for her work with the Access Program.
M.V. Hospital Plan Update
Tim Walsh reported on his visit to Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT. The facility was beautiful and clean, and Planetree’s holistic approach empowers patients, families, and caregivers. The Planetree Alliance’s 80 hospitals have operating costs and patient fees comparable to non-participating hospitals. Jane Cleare moved to support Griffin Hospital, Kathy Logue seconded the Motion, and the Motion passed with Peter Strock abstaining.
Island Health Plan
Cindy Mitchell discussed the insurance plan, which targets self-employed individuals and small companies. The developmental model is a partnership made up of 3 subsidiaries; insurance, community-based, and state. (This may or may not include local and federal government.)
Two candidates have been interviewed for the health clinic; they will be contracted in the next 30 days. February 1, 2004, is the target date to begin offering services. Michele Lazerow made a Motion to see if the Dukes County Health Council will resolve to endorse and support the Island Health Plan’s affordable insurance program, development by the Health Council membership from November 1998 through June 2002, and further developed by the Lighthouse Health Access Alliance federal grant regional collaborative from September 2000 through the present, provided that
mutually agreed-upon provider reimbursement thresholds are able to be met further provided that the insurance program offering is able to be restricted to Island residents with incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level; and finally provided that the mission of the Island Health Plan to provide affordable access to high quality health care for the uninsured and underserved residents of Martha’s Vineyard remain the first priority of the program. Cathy Brennan seconds the Motion. Kathy, Cathy and Jacque strongly favor the motion; they believe this is a vehicle to seek funding through collaboration. Sarah supports this motion on behalf of the clients she sees daily with no health insurance. Jacque Cage made a Motion to amend the motion to see if the Dukes County Health Council will resolve to endorse and support the Island Health Plan’s affordable insurance program, development by the Health Council membership from November 1998 through June 2002, and
further developed by the Lighthouse Health Access Alliance, a regional collaborative from, September 2000 through the present, provided that mutually agreed-upon provider reimbursement thresholds are able to be met further provided that the insurance program offering is able to be restricted to Island residents with incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level; and finally provided that the mission of the Island Health Plan to provide affordable access to high quality health care for the uninsured and underserved residents of Martha’s Vineyard remain the first priority of the program. Michele Lazerow seconded the Motion, the Motion passed, Tim Walsh opposed.
Rural Health Clinic
Ilene Klein moved to review the information given to be addressed at the next meeting along with Motion #2. Michele Lazerow seconded the Motion, the Motion passed, Jane Cleare opposed and three abstaining.
Lighthouse
The four-year grant is ending. Decisions are being made whether or not to continue this collaboration.
County Managers Report
The budget process is underway. The position of Executive Assistant/Grant Writer will be filled shortly. Mr. Davis met with Congressman Delahunt; he will be going on an overnight with the FAA and General Services Administration (G.S.A.) for surpluses and would like the grant writer to work closely with these departments. Mr. Davis and Dennis Lutrell are seeking to file legislation for purposes of the Departmental Housing Communities Development for small grants to get
these rural areas together.
The meeting adjourned at 9:32 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Leighton
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