Call to Order and Roll Call
The third meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Health and Welfare was held on Wednesday, August 18, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time, at the Wendell Foster’s Camp for Developmental Disabilities, Young Meeting House, 815 Triplett Street, Owensboro, Kentucky. Representative Tom Burch, Co-Chair, called the meeting to order at 1:38 p.m., and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Senator Julie Denton, Co-Chair; Representative Tom Burch, Co-Chair; Senators Julian M. Carroll, Perry B. Clark, Denise Harper Angel, and Joey Pendleton; Representatives Jim Glenn, Brent Housman, David Watkins, and Addia Wuchner.
Guest Legislators: Senator David Boswell; and Representatives Jim Gooch and Tommy Thompson.
Guests: The Honorable Wendell H. Ford; Jody Wassmer, President, Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce; Terry Brownson, CEO, Wendell Foster’s Campus for Developmental Disabilities; Deborah Fillman, MS, RD, LD, CDE, Public Health Director, Green River District Health Department; Jeff Barber, President and CEO, Owensboro Medical Health System; Jodi Mitchell, Kentucky Voices for Health; Mary M. Corbett, Norton Healthcare, Louisville; Elizabeth Edwards; John Talbert, BREC; Vivian Craig McNatton, Green River Area Development District; Cathy Franey, OCHN; John and Debbie Gilbreath, Stonebridge Insurance; Murray Wood, Lisa Osborne, and Mary W. Sparn, Cabinet for Health and Family Services; Merritt Bates Thomas and Clay Horton, Green River District Health Department; Rich Suwanski, Owensboro Messenger Inquirer; Ashley Bradshaw, Chamber of Commerce; Pat Floherth, Attorney; Marla Breswell, Wendell Foster’s Campus for Developmental Disabilities; Patricia L. Simon, Owensboro medical practice; Bruce Kunze, Daviess Fiscal Court; David Mast, Mast Solutions; Jeremy Eage, Hilliard Lyons; Carl Boes and Steve Shannon, Kentucky Assn. of Regional Mental Health-Mental Retardation Programs, Inc.; Wendell Smith, Owensboro Place Care and Rehabilitation; Sean Cutter and James Higdon, McBrayer, McMillan, Leslie and Kirk; Ron Wrona; Sarah Nicholson, Kentucky Hospital Association; and Tim Veno, Kentucky Association of Homes and Services; and Marty White, Kentucky Medical Association.
LRC Staff: DeeAnn Mansfield, Miriam Fordham, Ben Payne, Jonathan Scott, Gina Rigsby, and Cindy Smith.
Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations
The following referred administrative regulations were on the agenda for consideration: 201 KAR 20:510 – sets the procedure for a nurse who desires to relinquish a license prior to its expiration date. The same procedures shall apply to advanced practice registered nurses, sexual assault nurse examiners, and dialysis technicians with the credential issued by the KBN; 900 KAR 6:060 – establishes the timetable for submission of application requirements necessary for the orderly administration of the Certificate of Need Program; 902 KAR 20:400 – establishes licensure requirements for the operation of and services provided by limited services clinics; 921 KAR 1:410 – establishes procedures for collection and enforcement of child support; 921 KAR 2:530 – establishes the Work Now Kentucky Program in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 603 as amended by Pub. L. 111-5. A motion to accept the referred administrative regulations was made by Representative Burch, seconded by Senator Denton, and accepted by voice vote.
Resolution
A resolution honoring the life of Dr. Cornelia Jarmon Glenn was read and presented to Representative Jim Glenn. A motion to adopt the resolution was made by Senator Pendleton, seconded by Representative Housman, and adopted by voice vote.
Collaboration: Key to a Healthy Region
Jody Wassmer, President, Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce stated that the city and county voted in a joint session to approve the downtown and riverfront redevelopment project and the funding mechanism. The jointly-appointed commission is overseeing the events and convention center project. The Chamber Leadership Initiatives for Northwestern Kentucky (C-LINK) has 3,250 members from Breckinridge, Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union, and Webster Counties. The Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation has a partnering agreement with the Hancock County Industrial Foundation. It also works with the Northwest Kentucky Forward, the economic development organization for Henderson, Union, Webster, and McLean Counties. The number one project is I-69 Spur. In response to a question by Senator Denton, Mr. Wassmer stated that in 1989, a vote to merge the county and city governments was defeated three to one. Discussions continue about merging the two governments. Representative Burch stated that the measure to merge city and county governments failed several times until it was successfully passed.
Quality, Efficiency and Partnerships for People with Developmental Disabilities
Terry Brownson, CEO, Wendell Foster’s Campus for Development Disabilities, stated that since 1947 the campus has been a 501(c)(3) non-profit community partner that empowers people with developmental disabilities to realize their dreams and potentials. Services include intermediate care facility, supports for community living, independent living, outpatient rehabilitation and community supports, early intervention therapies and training, assistive technology center and evaluations, work training program, Western Kentucky University Kelly Autism Program, and professional internships. The campus collaborates with the Hugh E. Sandefur Training Center, the Western Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, University of Southern Indiana, University of Evansville, Brescia University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Bellarmine, and Spaulding. Representative Burch explained that services for developmental disabled individuals have vastly improved since the mid-1960s. Senator Pendleton stated that people outside of Owensboro need to hear about the services that the Wendell Foster’s Campus has to offer.
Public Health: Success, Challenges and Emerging Needs in the Green River District
Deborah S. Fillman, MS, RD, LD, CDE, Public Health Director, Green River District Health Department stated that its mission is to promote, protect, and enhance the health and well-being of the public. The health department serves Henderson, Union, Webster, McLean, Hancock, Ohio, and Daviess Counties and serves a population of approximately 212,000 individuals. It provides services for chronic diseases, teenage mothers, well child screenings, adult and child immunizations, breast and cervical cancer screenings, communicable diseases, family planning, WIC, 38 school sites, home health, HANDS, and point of entry for First Steps. The health department has a $17 million budget and has 260 employees. In 2009, the WIC recipients spent approximately $4.7 million dollars in the community. In response to a question by Representative Burch, Dr. Fillman stated that illegal aliens do impose a financial stress on the health department, because the health department has to absorb those costs from their existing budgets. All people are treated and provided the same services no matter their citizenship status. In response to a question by Senator Denton, Dr. Fillman stated that refugees are under federal laws and regulations, but there are gaps. In response to a question by Senator Denton, Dr. Fillman stated that the health department does work with the entities that provide sponsorships.
Staying Ahead of Health Reform: One Hospital’s Journey
Jeff Barber, DrPH, President and CEO, Owensboro Medical Health System, stated its mission is to heal the sick and improve the health of its community, and its vision is to become a regional center of excellence. The hospital has a financial assistance program for uninsured patients. Hospital provider challenges include stress on the Medicaid program and cost containment from reform’s expanded roles, pressure to change or dismantle the Certificate of Need process, worsened physician shortage environment from coverage expansion, and medical liability reform. In response to a question by Senator Denton, Mr. Barber said that the $92 million attributed to Medicaid was for the entire Owensboro Medical Health System, not just the hospital. In response to a question by Senator Denton, Mr. Barber stated that the hospital worries more about access to care than inappropriate emergency room visits, but do redirect some individuals who could see their own primary care physician instead of receiving services at the hospital. In response to a question by Representative Glenn, Mr. Barber stated that there needs to be a balanced ratio of different types of nurses who are adequately trained and supervised.
Adjournment
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn at 3:05 p.m. CDT was made by Senator Pendleton, seconded by Representative Watkins, and approved by voice vote.