Minutes

Attending: Gary Stein (Co-Chairperson), Ed Wilhoite (Co-Chairperson), Issy Olivia (WASF), Monty Piepereit, Linda Capriotti (WCHD) and Rebecca Johnson (ICHC).

Absent: Linda Lindegaard, Karen Grossman (ICHD), Al Archer (SHH) and Kim Van Epps (SCHD)

Approval of Agenda

Upon motion by Gary , duly seconded by Rebecca, agenda approved as amended.

Member Updates

Rebecca discussed her Region 9 & 10 meeting in Las Vegas and the frustration around RWCA reauthorization, indicating that word there was that only medical case management would be reauthorized. Ed announced her promotion to Operations Director at Interfaith Community Health Center ! Gary gave an update on activity in the prevention activist community and the Prevention Leadership Convention. Linda announced the new fee-based testing policy at WCHD (consistent with other jurisdictions in the region) and answered questions around anonymous testing and refusal to disclose. Issy announced that WASF had received $150 from the Giving Tree and was pleased with the increased visibility for WASF. Monty talked about the EAF Christmas dinner and the great client and family attendance. Ed announced the two new case managers at EAF, both of whom have MSW degrees, one of whom is a licensed clinical social worker: excellent additions to the staff, consistent with the direction of the NCCC and the anticipated changes in HIV case management in Washington . Ed also announced that EAF has hired a part-time peer advocate. EAF has received a Pride Foundation grant of $3,000 to test at-risk youth in Whatcom County . EAF will be conducting a social marketing campaign this summer to increase public awareness of HIV disease and to support prevention efforts. Ed also described client experience with the implementation of Medicare Part D. The breakdown was on the part of several pharmacies, including national chains, which refused to provide medication to clients without excessive co-payments (in non-compliance with the law). EAF will engage in some advocacy on this issue.

Consortium Update

Ed gave an update on the RWCA reauthorization and a report on third quarter consortium activity (see below for more specific items of discussion).

Business Items

1. Prevention Spending Plan Update

Ed gave an update on the Region 3 2006 prevention spending plan and what he regards as the failures of process and substance, including the involvement of the administrators, the failure to inform the Planning Council fully of the issues, the allocation methodology, inconsistency with the AIDS Omnibus Act, failure to comply with the Open Public meetings Act, the funding allocations and the failure to fund case management in San Juan County. Members offered direction to the involvement of the Lead Agency in the process and will remain watchful of case management in San Juan County . Ed provided the members with an update from San Juan County Health Department on the status of case management services. Gary moved that Ed draft a letter at the appropriate time expressing NCCC concerns, to be approved by e-mail. Issy seconded. Motion passed.

2. FY 2005 Spend Out

Ed gave a fiscal report, indicating areas of under spending and over spending. Ed expects that case management costs will exceed the allocated amount due primarily to accrued benefit payments to terminating staff and higher fringe benefit costs. In addition, EAF was incurring substantial translation costs with several new Hispanic clients, one with a complicated pregnancy. No costs incurred to date for Oral Health or Substance Abuse, although Westcoast Counseling has performed Substance Abuse services and Ed expects that WCTC will nearly expend the allocated amount upon executing the contract. Ed expects the contract will zero with fewer adjustments than last year. Members approved the approach to shift funds and suggested other possibilities (such as providing Consortium Support for an allocated portion of the EAF website for the consortium portal).

3. Needs Assessment Activity

This year, the Washington State Department of Health is taking the lead role in conducting the consumer and provider surveys, so there will be much less work than anticipated. DOH will mail consumer surveys to all EIP clients. Members should identify and mail surveys to all non-EIP clients and to providers. All surveys will be returned to DOH. The consumer survey is available in Spanish this year. EAF will coordinate.

4. Member Satisfaction Surveys

Ed reported on the results of the member satisfaction survey completed last fall. Evaluation was uniformly high. One area that members wanted to improve was member recruitment,

5. Committee Assignments

Ed asked the members to select members for the three constituted committees (Allocation, Membership and Assessment). The members decided that since so much of the work was done at the consortium level, and that this worked quite well, there was no current need for any particular committees. This would avoid duplication. No committees reconstituted.

6. Revised Membership Applications

Ed presented the revised organization and individual membership applications for approval. Gary moved to approve the organization application. Monty seconded. Motion passed. Gary moved to approve the individual application. Issy seconded. Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned.

Minutes approved by consent.