Community Connections

• Donna Tatnall handed out information regarding Bridging the gap between the Justice System & People with Cognitive Disabilities.
• Mechelle Holt informed us about a Self-Advocacy Class scheduled for Friday, December 16 th, 2005.
• Bill updated us quickly on SA issues.

• Read the handouts.
• More information on the yellow handout.

I. Welcome

• Leslie Huntley called the meeting to order.

Role Call will be added to this section on the next agenda.

II. Guest Comments

• Jim Greer informed us that he will be going to Raleigh next week. He will email us any updates within the division.
• Jim is working with SA. He covers 4 LME’s (New River, Smokey, Foothills & WHN). He admits he enjoys working with WH & CFAC.

III. Ground Rules

• Ground rules were present.

IV. Agenda

• Agenda approved.

V. Minutes

• November Minutes were reviewed.

• November Minutes were approved.

• By-laws were approved with corrections by WH Board on November 18, 2005.

• Corrections were made by Janet Price-Ferrell and the final copy was handed out.

VII. Update on Consolidating the LME’s & Service Definitions.

• Arthur has attended many meetings with New River & Smokey to discuss the plans of merging. The plans are continuously changing.
• WH will be submitting a letter to the Secretary. The letter will summarize how WH has offered, but been denied, to partner with Smokey & New River. WH is interested in expanding a Pilot Program with integrating/collaboration between LME’s and Providers.
• The letter is due December 15th.
• The question was asked “Why are Smokey & New River against WH?”
  Three Reasons:
  1. Buncombe County (too large)
  2. Who will have the control?
  3. The movement of properties owned by the other LME’s.
  
• A decision was supposed to be made on November 29 th, but there are (12) questions that still need answers. After the questions are answered, the Division believes the New Service Definitions will be approved.

VIII. CFAC/LME Partnership

• CQI Team will meet Tuesday, December 13 th at 9:00am. Leslie Huntley will attend the meeting.
• Items CQI will be discussing: How to improve quality? Is this going to expand business? How will WH respond to change?
• Flowcharts will explain the flow of the system.

• CFAC will go over their involvement at a later date.

IX. Legislative Oversight Committee

• January’s meeting will focus on issues around DD. (Held on the 4 th Thursday of the month)
• Senator Nesbitt is in the process of tackling Mental Health Reform. (Status of LME & Instability of Services).
• Some articles where handed out for reading.

X. Provider Monitoring

• DFS is opening additional offices over the area, which will help the local agencies.
• Bill Cook asks “Will the new agencies have clinical representatives in all MH/DD/SA areas?
• PND conducts Field Audits – Data is input into the computer. From the data a report is generated. Any situations needing attention, the agency is asked to do a Corrective Action Plan.
• PND also checks with DFS, DSS, Program Availability, Child services, and other agencies for incidents.
• PND receives about 1 to 2 complaints a month involving health and/or safety.
• If an agency has a complaint against them – PND directs referrals elsewhere (until complaint is handled), they alert consumers/Guardians that are already in the home, and if necessary – the contract is broken or not renewed.
• Nancy Baker questioned Anne Doucette regarding the Medication Policy (Consumers traveling with medications)
• Donna Tatnall asks how the public/consumers can find out which Case Managers/Providers are under suspicion?

• Anne will find out the answer and get back to Bill.

• Janet Price-Ferrell will let Anne Doucette know which CBS Providers accept Health Choice.

• Anne Doucette will find out the answer and let Nancy Baker know.
  
• Anne Doucette suggests calling PND to find out. PND can give you names of the CM/Providers but can not tell the situation.

XI. Medicare Prescription Plan

• Medicare Part D is extremely important for those that have Medicare or Medicare & Medicaid.
• Delete
• Consumers with Medicare only – The deadline to enroll is May 15, 2006.
• Consumers with Medicaid and Medicare – Are automatically enrolled. It is essential that the plan they have been enrolled in be reviewed with other plans ASAP prior to December 31, 2005 to determine if it is a plan that covers all of their medications.
• WHN will create a list of consumers who have Medicare only and a list of consumers who have both Medicare and Medicaid. The list will be provided to the CRE's as appropriate and request what the status of enrollment is for each consumer. Consumers with both Medicare & Medicaid should have the higher priority in completing the enrollment

• MEMBERSHIP – Beverly St. James gave Nancy a copy of the Ad that will run in the papers.
• Beverly St. James will also come up with some different options for flyers that may be handed out.
• Attendance of CFAC meeting will be closely looked at.
• EXECUTIVE – CFAC Retreat will probably be held on a Saturday with 1 day saved for a snow date.
• Leslie will draft a letter to WH Board clarifying CFAC concerns. She will email the letter to CFAC members for comments.
• NOMINATING – Ron Schieve has resigned from CFAC.
• Nomination’s for CFAC were also handed out.
• FINANCE – Bill Cook gave a brief summary of money spent and amount of budget left.

• Beverly will bring draft copies of the flyers to the next CFAC meeting.

• Role Call will be added to the next Agenda.

• Handout – Copy of letter to CFAC from Artie Wilson & Letter to Artie from Mike Moseley.

• Everyone has received a copy of the email sent to Ron from Mechelle and Ron’s response. (Attached)
  
• Everyone was in favor of the Nominations. (Attached)

The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.