SUMMARY MINUTES
Budget Discussion
Zoom Application
July 8, 2020
10:00 AM
TRUSTEES: Marybeth Cunningham Karen Deigl
Ann Marie McCrystal Tracey Zudans
Allen Jones Barbara Bodnar
Michael Wiess
STAFF: Ann Marie Suriano Jennifer Frederick
Kate Voss Jennifer Peshke, Esq.
Convene Meeting – Marybeth Cunningham, Chairwoman
Mrs. Cunningham convened the budget discussion meeting of the IRCHD Board of Trustees at 10:00 AM by welcoming those participating via Zoom. She reviewed the regulations for conducting a meeting remotely as outlined in Governor DeSantis’ Executive Order 20-69, which has been extended until the end of July.
Office Space Update- Ann Marie Suriano, Executive Director
Mrs. Suriano provided the Trustee with an update concerning the District’s new office space and prepared a memo on the same. There was discussion around the lease term, and it was decided that language outlining the extension of the lease term was already included within the document. The current term is three years, with an option to extend. Mrs. Peshke stated that she will review the lease and add any necessary language. Additionally, Mrs. Suriano will be requesting that the landlord hold the 3% annual increase on rent, for the first three-year lease term. She is also recommending that the District pay the $25,000 in renovation cost up front, instead of over the 36-month lease term, to avoid almost $5,000 in interest fees. She asked for Trustee comment. Ms. Zudans stated that she believes it is an unnecessary expense to have a conference room which is only utilized a few times a month. She feels there are many alternative spaces within the county the District could utilize for its meetings, which would eliminate that expense. However, if the majority of the board is in favor of having the conference space, she will not object. Mr. Jones would like the District to purchase exterior signage at the new office space, so that the District’s location is more visible to the public.
FY 2020-2021 Budget Discussion- Ann Marie Suriano, Executive Director
Mrs. Suriano provided the board with the updated tentative budget which is inclusive of the final taxable values, county Medicaid share, and new construction costs. The proposed millage rate remained the same at .8011. Additionally, she provided some follow up questions Ms. Zudans submitted for Trustee consideration and discussion. Mr. Jones stated that there have been discussions concerning the Districts financial future and risks associated with these uncertain times. He asked Ms. Suriano and Ms. Frederick to calculate the number of individuals who fall in-between 150%-200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline, and are now covered under the District financial assistance policy. After review, the number does not appear to be substantial. Additionally, he believed there is uncertainty surrounding the Affordable Health Care Act, which may be repealed entirely. This could result in many more individuals without healthcare insurance. He also discussed the issues of under insured individuals, who have some type of insurance but have high deductibles and out of pocket co-pays. Those persons are ineligible for District support due to the current District eligibly guidelines which state you may not have any type of insurance. Lastly, there is the issue of the low reimbursement rates from Medicaid, which show that Florida has some of the lowest in the nation. He believes the Trustees should take all these variables into consideration when approving the tentative budget in July.
Ms. Zudans stated that she believes the District needs to look at where there are gaps in services, and directly cover those services. There was further group discussion concerning We Care, and how many patients are waiting to receive specialty services or procedures. They asked Ms. Stuven to gather that information and meet with Ms. Suriano to review and discuss the same. Dr. Saver indicated that they are finding it hard to recruit doctors to provided these services without receiving some type of reimbursement. Mrs. Suriano stated that she and Ms. Frederick are also working with TCCH & Whole Family Health regarding gaps in coverage within the county and will put together some information for the Trustees to review. The Trustees also discussed the importance of telehealth and the District has now begun to reimburse those agencies who are utilizing telehealth.
Ms. Zudans asked for clarification concerning the Emergency Meals on Wheels program funding, being requested by Senior Resource Association. Ms. Deigl explained that the program is offered to individuals who have been discharged from a hospital or a long-term care facility and provides meals and a home visits check for up to two months. She believes this is a direct healthcare services and falls within the Districts mission as a community health district. There was further discussion concerning the funding request from Hope for Families and if the Trustees had intended to only fund them once. Due to time constraints, Ms. Zudans indicated that she would bring the rest of her comments up at the next Chairman’s meeting. The agencies that the board would like more information on are Tykes & Teens, We Care and Phoenix Rising.
Adjourn- There was no public comment and the meeting was adjourned at 11:35 AM
