CFAC (Consumer And Family Advisory Committee)
Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF CFAC MEETING
November 13, 2006
Present: Nancy Baker, Bill Cook, Leslie Huntley, Janet Price-Ferrell,
Donna Tatnall, Rosemary Weaver, Arthur Carder
Absent: Mona Cornwell, Howard Graves, Kelley Boone
Guests: Bob Carey and Bob Huntley
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS:
- Nancy Baker Reports that a group meeting in Rutherford County regarding
issues at Magnolia House.
- Rosemary Weaver – Reports that they have a new sheriff in Rutherford
County.
- Bill Cook – Attended 1 st reorganization meeting of State CFAC.
Reports that Hooker-Odom took notes and listened. Bill thought it was
a good meeting. Discussed duties of State CFAC. Need to copy State
CFAC with everything we send Raleigh way.
- Donna Tatnall commented on seriousness of complications of substance
abuse – most capital murder cases involve substance abuse. In
work with capital punishment – believes much of it can be prevented
with SA treatment.
Leslie Huntley called meeting to order. Guests invited to sit at table
because they know rules. Quorum announced.
Nancy Baker welcomed everyone and asked for Guest Comments.
Nancy Baker asked for Review of the Agenda. Rosemary Weaver moved to
approve.
Reviewed meeting notes from September meeting. Donna Tatnall moved to
accept minutes. Bill Cook seconded. (CFAC prefers current format.) Accepted.
- LME UPDATE – Arthur Carder - Noted that staff at financial
conference.
- LME continues to deal with issues around New Provider.
- Three providers at 356 Biltmore Avenue in Asheville – Families
Together (Dan Zorn’s group); Parkway Behavioral; RHA.
- Dan Zorn’s group temporarily providing personnel in reception
area at 356 Biltmore Avenue.
- 900 Consumers still not assigned
- 63 are medication management only and will be assigned this week.
- LME making a proposal to Alpha Omega and Providence to pick up remainder
who are in their areas of service. Using funds allocated to transition
that are still available. Some providers refusing to take state funded
so LME using available funds to contract with providers willing to
do so.
- Question: Isn’t strategy for IPRS consumer to apply for Medicaid?
- Answer: Yes, but not all consumers are eligible, but plan is to move
as many as possible. Hoping to have eligibility specialists available
to help move folks – still in the works.
- Question: Has Legal Aid here not stepped up to the plate?
- Answer: No – that is not one of their areas – but no
one has asked them
- Discussion: Most legal aid’s will do this, but Pisgah pro bonos
which is time consuming
- LME Focus – new cost finding report process to determine what
the rate of reimbursement for LME’s for state $$’s so that
we can operate the LME. Presented to LOC today. WHN usually has no
problem working, except for this year when a huge chunk of $$ was taken
out. However that has been returned. No worries about $$ to do LME
business, but concerns about $$ for services. WHN has put $$ in reserve
for appeals process which did not get passed.
- Special Projects – earmarking special projects proposing to
develop voucher system for child/adolescent crisis services using administrative
$$ for enhancements. Family has to develop a plan and apply for vouchers.
Getting these vouchers approved could involve CFAC. Other special items – in
GA paid education specialists to fight for IEP plans that benefit.
Perhaps voucher system will encourage providers to develop something
to serve consumers.
- Other things – accreditation issues.
- List of questions referencing transitions:
- Can provider refuse to provide services depending on location?
- Discussion: Need to take to Lynn Trotter to check specific case.
Nancy offered details of case to CFAC and that family had solved
issue. Arthur stated it is a stupid issue and needs to be solved
and we need to hold her accountable.
- CFAC members commented that if this happens to this mother it
must be happening to other consumers.
- Can a group home refuse a family permission to take resident out
to dinner or to spend weekend at home?
- Answer
- Yes , if Consumer refuses to go; if there is something in plan
of care that best interest of consumer to be supervised with
family; group activity in home in which consumer needs to participate,
etc.
- No, if only reason is that group home will not receive payment
for overnight visit – unless this becomes an every weekend
event in which case the appropriate placement of consumer could
be called into question.
- Question is what is clinical requirement? Lively discussion
about provider needs – must look at all issues – do
we need Monday through Friday programs?
- Question: Can a provider refuse to provide services to a consumer
based on where they are receiving other services?
- Answer: Yes – they are designed as distinct services. Clozaril
clinic is good example. We try to encourage providers to provide complementary
services.
- Comment – that could close clubhouse in Rutherford County if
Family Preservation does not accept consumers from other agencies to
go to the PSR.
- Answer – clear distinction – PSR is a program – anyone
who meets eligibility can be accepted in PSR program.
- Discussion – how soon can we get new/old cases opened? Are
beginning to get cases opened.
- Other questions:
- Where is Dr. Knoelke – need to contact New Vistas for information.
- Parkway not responding to St. Luke’s Hospital and Pardee.
Answer – if there is an inpatient unit, hospital is required
to provide emergency services. If consumer has a provider – that
provider is first responder and should be available for that consumer.
If first responder cannot handle, they can request mobile crisis.
Parkway should be serving Polk, Transylvania and Spruce Pine hospitals.
When they do not receive a response, they need to contact Western
Highlands – Charlie Schoenheit.
- Walk-in clinics: Not all up and running – not sure where
they are supposed to be. Polk has not requested help for walk-in
clinic. Polk has not returned dissolution funds?
- What are contract provisions? Cannot charge an access fee, but
can charge other providers for services;
- What are contract provisions? Cannot charge an access fee, but
can charge other provders for services.
- In contract provisions, can refuse to provide services to IPRS
consumers. Contracts state that they cannot reject/eject consumers
who are eligible. If you reach capacity, you can refer. Providers
who do that will not be recommended for MOE funds; are not going
to be recommended for continuing contract discussion; the LME will
pull money out of their contracts to give to other providers who
are willing to serve IPRS clients. They will be showing up at board
meetings screaming and hollering.
- What is status of New Vistas/Audit? Audit is to go statewide which
will water down answers. Audit could do some substantial investigation
into the system and impact the system in next legislative system. State
auditor says they have yet to determine scope of audit. Lively discussion
of person who acted as “consultant” to New Vistas.
- Chair asked about job listings posted and when they will close? Most
particularly interested in consumer assistant. Arthur Carder replied
that he will be proposing other positions to Board.
- Chair (Nancy Baker) reported on Candidate Breakfasts. Chair felt
breakfasts went well.
- Expressed disappointment that Martin Nesbitt did not respond or show
up at Buncombe/Madison Breakfast.
- In Rutherford County, Senator Dalton and Representative England attended.
Provider staffs stated that they received more information from Arthur’s
comments than they had since the beginning of reform.
- Henderson/Polk/Transylvania had good turnout – Henderson County
Commission was very active and that commission has taken action. Polk
had one representative from Tryon Police Department.
- Comments – need to critique way to stay after politicians.
- Report made by Bob Carey and Bill Cook about who won/who lost in
various commission meetings.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
- Nancy Baker - Executive committee recommends that CFAC meetings be
moved to first Monday of Month and Executive committee meeting will
move to last Wednesday of the Month – staring in February, 2007.
Rosemary Weaver moved that plan be adopted – it passed.
- Donna Tatnall reported on letter to Susan Hendricks.
- Donna Tatnall reported on Membership Committee – set various
term limits.
- Rutherford County Nancy chose 3 years; Rosemary chose 2 years;
- Madison County – Kelley (3 years) and Howard (?)
- Buncombe County – Mona and Janet have to choose.
- Membership committee will take up soon.
- There is a problem downloading applications from website - will
send paper copies to anyone who wishes to have application.
- By-Laws Report – Janet Price-Ferrell – pointed out membership
issues regarding requirements. Suggested that amendment to by-laws
be made to make certain that 2 family members do not serve on CFAC.
Janet to discuss better verbiage with Rhonda McKee. Co-Chair (Leslie)
suggested that it should be a policy, not a by-law. Janet Price-Ferrell
will work on verbiage in policy not by-laws.
OTHER COMMENTS: Arthur offered comments on the de-professionalizing
mental health services. Therefore, service system is being run by courts/attorneys.
Meeting was adjourned on the motion of Bill Cook.
Respectfully submitted,
Leslie Huntley
Co-Chair.
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