Du Page County Health & Human Services Committee met Nov. 17.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
1. CALL TO ORDER
9:30 AM meeting was called to order by Chair Sam Tornatore at 9:36 AM.
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: DeSart (Remote), DiCianni (Remote), Eckhoff, Larsen (Remote), Renehan (Remote), Tornatore (Remote)
ABSENT:
Assistant State's Attorney Anthony Hayman and Chief Communications Officer, Joan Olson attended the meeting.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Steve Fixler, Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC), stated they are requesting new, unwrapped gifts for the annual Toys for Tots drive. Posters are displayed and a drop off box is located outside the VAC office on the second floor.
4. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - CHAIR TORNATORE
Chair Tornatore stated that today’s meeting is the last Health and Human Services (HHS) meeting of the current tenure of board. Mr. Tornatore thanked the prior HHS Chair, Pete DiCianni, for his hard work. He went on to acknowledge outgoing incumbent Member Bob Larsen for his hard work and dedication as chair of the committee for the first 6 years that Mr. Tornatore served as the vice president. Chair Tornatore added that Member Larsen spent a great deal of time working with the people at the Care Center, and all he did as the HHS Chair made the HHS committee what it is today. “You will be missed. I will miss you and I wish you nothing but good fortune in the future.”
Mr. Larsen stated it was a great experience, working with a couple of different administrators at the Care Center, and his years of working with Mary Keating, Director of Community Services, one of the most amazing public servants he knows, she does so many things. “This HHS committee has always been more important than it gets credit for and it was a challenge for me to step away to chair Finance but it has always been an honor to serve with this committee, work with the tremendous staff at the Care Center and Human Services. It has been great, thank you.”
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Health & Human Services - Regular Meeting - Oct 20, 2020 9:30 AM
RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Robert L. Larsen, District 6
SECONDER: Peter DiCianni, District 2
AYES: DeSart, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Larsen, Renehan, Tornatore
6. COMMUNITY SERVICES - MARY KEATING
CS Requests That Also Require Finance And/Or County Board Approval
A. FI-R-0650-20 RESOLUTION -- Revision to Personnel Headcount - ILDCEO CSBG CARES ACT supplemental grant 5000-1650 - For two additional staff that are needed to provide assistance to County residents in need of assistance for rent, mortgage, water bills and other costs associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic. (COVID ITEM)
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Julie Renehan, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Dawn DeSart, District 5
AYES: DeSart, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Larsen, Renehan, Tornatore
Items 6.B. through 6.E. were combined and approved.
B. FI-R-0651-20 RESOLUTION -- Acceptance and Appropriation of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) HHS Grant FY21, Inter-Governmental Agreement No. 21-224028, Company 5000 - Accounting Unit 1420, $1,747,629.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dawn DeSart, District 5
SECONDER: Peter DiCianni, District 2
AYES: DeSart, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Larsen, Renehan, Tornatore
C. HHS-R-0649-20 RESOLUTION -- Approval of Issuance of Payments by DuPage County to Energy Assistance Providers through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) HHS Grant FY21 Inter-Governmental Agreement No. 21-224028 in the amount of $1,477,620.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dawn DeSart, District 5
SECONDER: Peter DiCianni, District 2
AYES: DeSart, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Larsen, Renehan, Tornatore
D. HHS-P-0318-20 Recommendation for the approval of a contract to WellSky Corporation for renewal of the Annual Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Software and Cloud Services Contract, renewal of licenses, training, support, and custom programming, for a contract total not to exceed $44,500, per 55 ILCS 5/5-1022 “Competitive Bids” (c) not suitable for competitive bids-Sole Source.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dawn DeSart, District 5
SECONDER: Peter DiCianni, District 2
AYES: DeSart, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Larsen, Renehan, Tornatore
E. Change Order -- HHS-P-0331A-19, Amendment to Resolution HHS-P-0331-19, issued to Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless, to provide wireless services, for the Aging Case Coordination Unit, for a change order to extend the contract through February 28, 2021, to increase the contract in the amount of $12,000.00, resulting in an amended total amount not to exceed $62,000.00, an increase of 24.00%.
Items 6.B. through 6.E. were combined and approved.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dawn DeSart, District 5
SECONDER: Peter DiCianni, District 2
AYES: DeSart, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Larsen, Renehan, Tornatore
7. DUPAGE CARE CENTER - JANELLE CHADWICK
DuPage Care Center Requests That Also Require Finance And/Or County Board Approval
Items 7.A. through 7.F. were combined and approved.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Robert L. Larsen, District 6
SECONDER: Peter DiCianni, District 2
AYES: DeSart, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Larsen, Renehan, Tornatore
A. FI-R-0644-20 RESOLUTION -- Acceptance and Appropriation of the DuPage Care Center Foundation-Recreation Therapy Grant FY21, Company 5000 - Accounting Unit 2120, $19,981.
B. FI-R-0645-20 RESOLUTION -- Acceptance and Appropriation of DuPage Care Center Foundation - Foundation Coordinator Grant PY21, Company 5000 - Accounting Unit 2120, $27,742.
C. HHS-P-0001-20 Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order to Valdes Supply, for paper towels, facial tissue, hard roll towels and toilet tissue (group 2, alternate B1) as needed, for the DuPage Care Center, for an initial period of December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2022, for a contract total not to exceed $94,095.06, per lowest bid#20-122-FM.
D. HHS-P-0319-20 Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order to Medline, Industries, Inc., to furnish and deliver various linens for the DuPage Care Center, for the period December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021, for a contract total not to exceed $61,500.00, under bid renewal #18-193-CARE, second of three (3) one (1) year optional renewal.
E. HHS-P-0320-20 Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order to AirGas USA, LLC, to furnish and deliver liquid portable oxygen for the residents at the DuPage Care Center, for the period December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021, for a contract total not to exceed $36,000.00, per renewal option under lowest responsible bid #18-185-CARE, second of three (3) optional one-year (1) renewal.
F. HHS-P-0321-20 Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order to PointClickCare Technologies, Inc., for Electronic Health Record (EHR) software system integration, for the DuPage Care Center, for the period November 25, 2020 through November 24, 2025, for a contract total amount not to exceed $1,285,752.36, per Proposal #20-067-CARE.
8. VETERANS ASSISTANCE COMMISSION
FI-R-0646-20 RESOLUTION -- Acceptance of an Extension of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Scratch-Off Lottery Grant FY20 Grant Agreement No. 654 Company 5000 - Accounting Unit 1731.
Member DeSart asked how much money was raised last year with this program. Steve Fixler, Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC), replied that $80,000 was raised. The VAC spent $42,900, leaving approximately $37,000 remaining, with about $10,000 of that accounted for. The VAC served 12-15 veterans with a $5,000 cap per individual. The grant covers dental, vision, and hearing with 95% of the expenses used for dental. The new scratch off lottery is out for 2021.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dawn DeSart, District 5
SECONDER: Julie Renehan, Vice Chair
AYES: DeSart, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Larsen, Renehan, Tornatore
9. BUDGET TRANSFERS
Items 9.A. through 9.D. were combined and approved.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dawn DeSart, District 5
SECONDER: Robert L. Larsen, District 6
AYES: DeSart, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Larsen, Renehan, Tornatore
A. Budget Transfers -- DuPage Care Center - To transfer funds to cover replacement of Smart Lifts/Stands with Scales and necessary accessories for the Nursing Department. Old equipment will not be supported for repair/parts effective February 1, 2021 - 11,000.
B. Budget Transfers -- DuPage Care Center - To transfer funds to cover purchase of security camera for the Pharmacy and for professional services for claims services - $1,369.
C. Budget Transfers -- DuPage Care Center - To transfer budgeted funds, allowing for sufficient budget availability for payment refunds - $80,000.
D. Budget Transfers -- DuPage Care Center - To transfer budgeted funds to cover membership for the dietician annual certification fee and professional member for Dining Services, and to cover Professional Services of FY21 Electronic Health Record integration at the Care Center - $244,200.
10. TRAVEL
Authorization for Overnight Travel -- Weatherization Assessor to attend the Healthy Home Evaluator Training Course in Champaign, Illinois, from December 7, 2020 through December 11, 2020. Expenses to include lodging, miscellaneous expenses (parking, mileage, etc.), and per diem for approximate total of $670. Weatherization grant funded 5000-1400.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Grant Eckhoff, District 4
SECONDER: Peter DiCianni, District 2
AYES: DeSart, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Larsen, Renehan, Tornatore
11. CONSENT ITEMS
Items 11.A. and 11.B. were combined and approved.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Grant Eckhoff, District 4
SECONDER: Robert L. Larsen, District 6
AYES: DeSart, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Larsen, Renehan, Tornatore
A. Consent Item -- Extend contract 441-0001 SERV issued to CareVoyant, Inc. for professional services associated with the business analysis and implementation of Nursing clinical functions, through November 30, 2021 to allow transitional time for new Electronic Health Record Company. (441-0001 SERV)
B. Consent Item -- WellSky Corporation - Decrease/Close PO 4320-0001 SERV ($10,992.56)
12. INFORMATIONAL
Items 12.A. through 12.C. were combined and accepted to place on file.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Peter DiCianni, District 2
SECONDER: Dawn DeSart, District 5
AYES: DeSart, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Larsen, Renehan, Tornatore
A. Informational -- The Office of Inspector General conducts audits on Medicaid receivables for the Care Center approximately every four (4) years. The Medicaid Audit identifies over payments in reimbursement based on areas such as discrepancies in patient liability, patient income changes, Medicaid case approval delays, and the ongoing transition from Medicaid to Managed Care (MCOs). The audit period covers 2 1/2 years (1/1/16 through 06/30/18). The identified over payments during this period are $430,210.81. In years past this overpayment was paid over a period of years through the reduction of revenue. However, the State is now charging 5% interest. To avoid additional cost to DPCC, we are paying this in one payment in fiscal year 2020. DPCC did budget for these audit findings in budget year 2019 and 2020.
B. Grant Proposal Notifications -- GPN 073-20 DuPage Care Center Foundation Recreation Therapy Grant FY21 - $19,981.
C. Grant Proposal Notifications -- GPN 074-20 DuPage Care Center Foundation - Foundation Coordinator Grant FY21 - $27,742.
13. RESIDENCY WAIVERS - JANELLE CHADWICK
A. Motion to approve one out of county residency waiver
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Peter DiCianni, District 2
SECONDER: Dawn DeSart, District 5
AYES: DeSart, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Larsen, Renehan, Tornatore
14. COMMUNITY SERVICES UPDATE - MARY KEATING
Mary Keating stated she has been working with Member Renehan to bring additional funding for food pantries to County Board’s next agenda for approval. Ms. Keating contacted the Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) to identify the eight largest distribution points that have not received direct allocations. Funding for these eight agencies will be absorbed by the $7,000,000 already allocated to the Community Services department.
Community Services is making a concerted effort to reduce the headcount within the office due to an uptick in the number of staff that have been exposed to Covid-19 and are quarantining at home.
Since the CDBG funds have a longer spending horizon than the CRF funds, (through 2022 compared to December, 2020 for CRF funds), the Community Development Commission (CDC) is now putting together the 2021 plan to allocate the CDBG grant funds we received. We will bring plans to the CDC in December, probably a hybrid of some set asides for specific types of activities, as well as some open applications for non-profits looking for public service dollars and capital dollars.
Ms. Keating thanked Member Larsen for all his support and kind words.
15. DUPAGE CARE CENTER UPDATE - JANELLE CHADWICK
Janelle Chadwick, Administrator of the DuPage Care Center, announced an employee passed away last week from Covid-19. There has been a chaplain in house to help staff with the grieving process.
Currently, four units are on isolation, they have had up to seven. Since April, five residents and 58 staff have tested positive for Covid-19. In the last two weeks, eleven residents and staff tested positive from one unit. Staff that work on isolation units are wearing N95 masks, visors and full PPE. Even with all the precautions, this is telling that some strains of the virus are very strong. Direct care staff are tested twice weekly, numbering over 800 tests per week, with well over 12,000 tests having been performed.
Ms. Chadwick referred to the open beds, stating at times the Care Center is running between 16 to 19 referrals at any given time. The need for the services is great; the ability to take the referrals is not viable right now. The Care Center’s closest competitor has closed their Medicare unit down. Ms. Chadwick thanked Member Larsen for his support to her and the Care Center.
After meeting with staff from many of the hospital systems, Ms. Keating noted that across the board, the health systems providers stated the community is not acknowledging and celebrating health care workers as was done in the spring. The hospitals are saying they have to work extra hard to boost morale. Ms. Keating thanked Ms. Chadwick and her staff for all they do and encouraged all to show appreciation for all workers in the health care industry. Ms. Chadwick added that we must be mindful that everyone comes to work with their own personal burdens; we don’t know what staff have to deal with on any given day.
16. OLD BUSINESS
Member Renehan thanked Ms. Keating for her assistance with the food insecurity issue; giving her a list of people to work with and growing the amount of the financial award. “There are people that will now have a nice Thanksgiving due to the work of the committee.” Ms. Renehan also thanked Karen Graczyk for her help.
17. NEW BUSINESS
Due to her knowledge, Member DeSart requested Ms. Keating’s help with preparing a list on how we should spend any additional stimulus package funding that may come our way. Ms. Keating replied that she has a significant network of nonprofits that she works with and they certainly help us identify the needs. In December the Community Development Commission committee will be discussing the community needs and putting out applications regarding the CDBG funds, which should bring a valuable sense of the community needs. Housing and food insecurity will be paramount of what we will focus on.
Member DeSart asked Ms. Keating about a specific family in the community. Ms. Keating replied that she is aware of the family and her Intake and Referral staff are assisting them.
18. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:00 AM.
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