Karuk Tribe of California
Health Board Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2005
Happy Camp, California
Ayukii,
The meeting was called to order at 5:01 PM by Arch Super, Chairman.
Roll Call
Present
Arch Super, Chairman
Leaf Hillman, Vice Chairman – 5:10 PM
Florrine Super, Secretary
Leeon Hillman, Treasurer
Roy Arwood, Member
Florence Conrad, Member
Robert Goodwin, Member
Robert Grant, Member
Alvis Johnson, Member
Quorum is established.
Florence Conrad read the Health Mission Statement aloud.
Approval of the Agenda for July 14, 2005
Florrine Super moved and Florence Conrad seconded to approve the Agenda for July 14, 2005. 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
1) Approval of the Minutes for June 8, 2005
Florrine Super moved and Robert Goodwin seconded to approve the Minutes for June 8, 2005. 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
2) Jeanerette Jacups-Johnny
Not present.
3) Sonia Donahue
Sonia was present to ask the Tribe for financial assistance to repay her debt to the Housing Authority so that she may be eligible to apply for Housing with them as she is currently living in a shelter. She has been clean and sober for 22 months and will be starting college next month and she would like to be able to get into a home before school starts for her children. She currently owes approximately $550. They would like to discuss it with her further in closed session.
Leaf Hillman arrived at 5:10 PM.
4) Hector Garcia
Hector is requesting out of state travel to Virginia, July 27-28, 2005 to attend a Budget Advisory Committee Meeting to go over the BIA/OST Budget. Leaf states BIA should reimburse for these travel expenses as it is their committee and they call the meetings. He would like someone from the Finance Office to contact them to see if they can be reimbursed for Hector’s travel expenses at these meetings.
Robert Goodwin moved and Leaf Hillman seconded to approve out of state travel and pursue reimbursement for the expenses. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Hector states that he requires a report from DNR regarding their program activities to be included with the proposal to the Governor. Bob states that the Council discussed this at the DNR Mid-Month Meeting earlier this week and they feel that Dennis needs to have a discussion directly with DNR Staff to express what is needed for this report. Roy asked what exactly it is he needs from them. Hector states they need a proposal that dollars from the Casino Revenue will be spent on the River. Florence states that she is the DNR Representative for the Council and if they would have brought this to her attention she could have followed up on it as the staff is very busy down there. She feels that between her, Leaf, and the staff they can put together a document. Leaf suggests that other than a 5 minute conversation with Dennis he has no idea what needs to be in the document that he is requesting a detailed description of what is needed. If any information is included in the emails regarding this, it needs to be forwarded to Leaf and Florence.
Hector would also like to start working on scheduling a Town Hall Meeting in Yreka with City and County Officials and all Council Members present. Bob would like to know if they can implement some guidelines for the meeting to keep order such as time limits and the ability to enforce them. Hector will put together videos, presentations, and speakers. The Tribal Council would also like to have some sort of discussion regarding what they have in mind for what the Casino will look like so that they can start moving toward getting conceptual drawings, etc. Florence suggests they need to discuss this further.
Leaf suggests that the Council direct Hector and the Gaming Committee to start looking at potential dates, an agenda, speakers, location, etc. for the Town Hall Meeting and then report back at the Wednesday Meeting. They also want him to contact Dennis to find out what kind of ideas he has about the meeting as well. The Council also needs to have a more in depth discussion regarding these items.
5) Barbara Norman
Barbara wanted to talk to the Council about the Gaming Proposal and she states that every member she has spoken to would like to see the Council move forward with the Casino and she feels that waiting another year would not be advantageous for the Tribe. It gives legislatures another year to revise the Gaming laws and regulations to change. She states they should jump on this opportunity! She states if they have the opportunity to go big they should, if they see themselves as big, they will be big!
6) Florrine Super
Florrine asked if Stephanie has requested a support letter for Senate Bill 678. An email was sent out regarding this subject and she wanted to know if the Council has taken any action on it. Florence would like as many Council Members as possible to be present at the upcoming meeting on August 16, 2005 to speak regarding their support of this bill. Arch states he has not signed a support letter. Barbara states she sent one on her letterhead. Stephanie sent the letter via email and Sara can get it ready for Arch’s signature. A Resolution can be assigned on Wednesday at the meeting.
7) Arch Super
Arch received a request from the Family Resource Center requesting a donation toward their Kids Day Event. They would like to table this to the Wednesday meeting.
He has a bill from the National Indian Health Board for renewal fees and would like to know if they should pay it or not. The amount paid previously was $637. Larry states the NIHB is the National Replica of the Portland Area Indian Health Board and California Rural Indian Health Board. He guesses the request is for membership in the organization. They lobby for Indian Health issues nationwide whereas CRIHB focuses on California Indian Health issues. Leaf requests that this be forwarded to Larry and he can bring it back with a recommendation.
There was brief discussion regarding the movement of the Turtle Health Project and where they are at and where they may be going. Dr. Burns feels it will not be moving forward and are having a hard time getting providers. Roy states they are still trying.
4) Old Business
None at this time.
5) David Eisenberg, Public Health Nurse/Outreach
David requested approval of Resolution 05-R-86 authorizing the submission of a proposal to the Department of Health and Human Services for Special Diabetes Funds for Native Americans for the Fiscal Year 2006 in the amount of $157,554.
Robert Goodwin moved and Leeon Hillman seconded to approve Resolution 05-R-86. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
David states that unless they will be changing more than 25% of their budget they can make modifications to fit their needs with this grant.
He also reviewed his written report which was included in the packets.
Florrine Super moved and Robert Goodwin seconded to approve David’s report. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
6) Joe Snapp
Joe’s written report was included in the packets for review and approval. Arch states that Fred’s recommendation is to offer to sell the backhoe to Joe for $1,500.
Florence Conrad moved and Alvis Johnson seconded to approve Joe’s report. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
7) Mike DeHart
Mike was present to report on activities at the Pharmacy. He states they have been having growing pains and are working on their formulary at this time. He states they are finding several patients listed as Medi-Cal that are not, those patients are not happy that they are being charged when they were not before. He states the Diabetic grant is moving along, EAPC is almost completed. The level of prescriptions is staying about the same. He asked if anyone has any questions or concerns.
Bob asked if the group will be meeting again to go over the changes and then bring back recommendations to the Council. They state they will. Larry states that the committee has reviewed the functions at the Pharmacy and what needed to be revised. The will meet again next week and have some recommendations by the next meeting.
Robert Goodwin moved and Leeon Hillman seconded to approve Mike’s report. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
8) Patti White
Patti was present to review her written report. She has been working on revisions to her and her staff’s position descriptions to include the measurable terms that are required by JCAHO. They are for the Database Administrator, Data Entry Clerks, and the Patient Eligibility Worker.
Robert Goodwin moved and Leeon Hillman seconded to approve revisions to the Database Administrator, Data Entry Clerk, and Patient Eligibility Worker position descriptions. 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara. (Leaf Hillman not present for voting).
Leeon Hillman moved and Robert Goodwin seconded to approve Patti’s report. 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara. (Leaf Hillman not present for voting).
9) Vickie Walden
Vickie states she does not have any items to add unless they have questions. She hopes to have the revised dental fee scale ready by next month.
Robert Goodwin moved and Leeon Hillman seconded to approve Vickie’s report. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
10) Lessie Aubrey
Lessie’s written report was included for approval. She is away on travel for tonight’s meeting. When the HRSA site review took place there was a recommendation at that each committee chair report on their committee’s activities. Dr. Burns states some HRSA recommendations were items that must be complied with and others were things HRSA thought they “should” do. The Council would like to know if they must do this or if it is only a recommendation, Larry will check on it and clarify.
Larry also elaborated on the JCAHO Accreditation process and how HRSA can/will be involved in the process and how they can help the Tribe fund the process. They were very impressed that the Karuk Tribal Health Program is already accredited.
She requests approval of the Media VIP, Patient Rights, and Advanced Directive Policies which have been reviewed and approved by the ACQI Committee.
Florence Conrad moved and Robert Goodwin moved to approve Policy 02-030-080, Media VIP Policy and Procedures. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Florence Conrad moved and Leeon Hillman seconded to approve Policy 06-000-101, Patient Rights and Responsibilities. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Florence Conrad moved and Roy Arwood seconded to approve Policy 06-002-002, Advanced Directive Policy. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Larry states that Joe has made the changes recommended by the ACQI Committee to the Substance Abuse Policy Manual and it was emailed. Sara states she received and sent an email back to Joe asking what she should do with it, but he never responded so she has not done anything with it yet. Sara will email it to them and they can approve it on Wednesday.
Florrine Super moved and Florence Conrad seconded to approve Lessie’s report. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
11) Larry Jordan
Larry was present to review his report.
Larry distributed an agreement with IHS to receive $175,000 for a dental expansion project. There were concerns raised that the funds must be used in the manner outlined in the project summary. Larry has spoke to Gary Ball and he has told him that they can bank these dollars to be used toward the dental construction in a new clinic when they are ready to build it. Laura states that if they take these dollars and set them aside they can then use them as match for applying for grant funding to build the new clinic. She states she can get further details regarding what it could be used for; Vickie states the dollars were for expanded access to dental so it would need to be used for dental. Leaf states they are facilities dollars so it most likely could not be used for land acquisition. Laura states the dollars will be allocated for dental expansion so that it cannot be used for any other purpose. It also can be placed into an interest bearing account and earn interest. She is pretty sure it can be “held” indefinitely and they should take it.
Resolution 05-R-94 was assigned to accept IHS Project Number CA-05-185-KAR for $175,000 for dental expansion dollars to be paid to the Tribe.
Robert Goodwin moved and Leeon Hillman seconded to approve Resolution 05-R-94. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
He distributed a letter from the County of Humboldt Department of Human Services requesting a meeting in August to meet with Daniel Pratt, Larry, and Mike Edwards will be meeting with them to discuss building partnerships with them and working together regarding Indian Child Welfare and setting up good communication lines with the Tribe and the County of Humboldt. After the initial meeting he will involve additional social service staff. He also invited Barbara Norman to attend if she can. Florence would also like to attend the meeting. It is scheduled for August 5, 2005 in Eureka.
He states the six month project reports have been submitted and HRSA they have accepted them. There is a committee established to look over the requirements of HRSA and they have been moving forward with hiring the staff budgeted in the grant which included the Billing Clerk, Patient Eligibility Worker, Dentist, and Dental Assistants. Patti states that the new Patient Eligibility Worker has already set up meetings with Humboldt/Siskiyou County Medi-Cal Offices and talked to the Family Resource Center to work with individuals eligible to apply for Medi-Cal or other grant sources to cover their medical services.
Vickie updated them on the staffing changes made in Dental and now all of the budgeted positions are filled in the HRSA Grant. Larry states they have filed for the Federal Tort Claims Coverage available through HRSA and they have submitted their letter of intent to HRSA to cover the JCAHO survey/accreditation fees. The new HRSA application for next year is due August 9, 2005. It will be a renewal application so it won’t be quite so cumbersome this time. The Technical Assistance Report will need to be submitted also.
There was discussion regarding possible sites for the new Clinic to be placed on. The three possible sites were the Bigfoot Trailer Park, the old mill site, and the Health and Harmony site. Another site is the land adjacent to Shannon’s Trailer Park. They would like to know if they would like to sell the property. Sara will give the contact information to Scott so he can look into it.
He has been at a Master Plan meeting with IHS in Sacramento for the past two days and briefly updated them on the benefits that can come from this process. The goal is to establish and overall master plan for California and then Tribes can compete for facilities dollars to construct facilities based on their needs. IHS will also evaluate service needs, space needs, as well as staffing and funding needs to provide care to patients. IHS will be on site on August 25, 2005 to meet regarding the Master Plan. That is the same day as the Council meeting which is scheduled for Orleans. He and the key health staff will complete the questionnaire to provide IHS with the data they need to project what the Tribe’s needs will be for 5, 10, and 15 years into the future.
Larry states the next Pharmacy Meeting is July 26, 2005 at 8:15 AM to meet and discuss their processes/procedures over there. It will be in the Conference Room and they will be reviewing the Pharmacy Charging Policy and how to make it work. There was further discussion regarding the issues at the Pharmacy.
There was also a piece of property that Tom Forcher was going to donate to the Tribe that may be available to be sold to the Tribe now. They would like Sara to forward this to Scott also.
Leaf Hillman moved and Robert Goodwin seconded to approve Larry’s report. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
12) Informational Items
None at this time.
13) Requests
Sara states she will present the final Healtherapy Rental Agreement at the Wednesday meeting.
14) Committee Reports
None at this time.
Closed Session from 8:00 PM to 10:50 PM
Robert Goodwin moved and Florence Conrad seconded to approve a loan to Tribal Member #2693 for $529 contingent on Housing waiving the waiting period so that they may be placed in a home and authorizing Arch to send a letter to that effect to Housing. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara. Payment details can be worked out with the Finance Office
Robert Goodwin moved and Leaf Hillman seconded to approve the recommended changes to the Enrollment Ordinance and Special Announcement to be sent out with the Open Enrollment period to begin August 15, 2005. 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 1 pupitihara (Florrine Super).
Florence Conrad moved and Roy Arwood seconded to approve up to $200 to install wireless internet access at the KCDC Building from discretionary. 7 haa, 0 puuhara (Florrine Super), 0 pupitihara.
CHS Case #144 in the amount of $4,465. Robert Goodwin moved and Florence Conrad seconded to uphold the denial. 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara (Leaf Hillman not present for voting). They would like a detailed proposal before they make a decision. If they can have it to them by Wednesday they can discuss it again.
CHS Case #145 in the amount of $1233.63 was tabled for further information.
CHS Case #146 in the amount of $90. Robert Goodwin moved and Leeon Hillman seconded to uphold the denial and pay $90. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Robert Goodwin moved and Leaf Hillman seconded to approve April Attebury working for a period of two months on TANF Planning to be funded from the BIA Budget. 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 1 pupitihara (Florence Conrad).
Robert Grant excused himself at 9:14 PM.
Consensus: To allow Barbara Norman to contact the PD regarding Tribal Member #3315’scase if requested.
Leeon Hillman moved and Leaf Hillman seconded to approve the a loan in the amount of $700 to Tribal Member #390 to be repaid $50 per pay period 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Florence Conrad moved and Florrine Super seconded to approve ˝ the cost of a paternity test from discretionary in the amount of $200. 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Florence Conrad moved and Florrine Super seconded to approve $100 from discretionary for a Tribal Member to attend Wilderness Camp. 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Leaf Hillman moved and Robert Goodwin seconded to approve Resolutions 05-R-88 (GT61645) and 05-R-89 (052700061) for ICWA. 8 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Roy Arwood moved and Florence Conrad seconded to approve a loan in the amount of $1,200 to Tribal Member #531 to be repaid $100 per pay period. 6 haa, 1 puuhara (Florrine Super), 0 pupitihara.
Consensus: To move forward with the County receiving/paying funds for Foster Care, but with the Tribe authorizing/approving the homes for placement for Tribal children and to NOT provide free rent to any families.
Consensus: To allow the Election Committee to go over budget. They can approve additional dollars for the Election Committee due to legal fees if they know what the amount is. They need the legal fees to make sure the Ordinance is revised legally.
Leaf Hillman moved and Robert Goodwin seconded to cancel the Cooking Contract for Council Meetings with Tribal Member #1525 and revise the Contract with Tribal Member #1740. 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Consensus: Employees will be allowed to participate in ceremonies and be paid administrative leave for that time. Employees will not be required to use their Annual Leave or LWOP but must first seek approval from their Supervisors to be away from the office.
Next Council Meeting Date: WEDNESDAY, August 27, 2005 at 5 PM in Yreka.
Next Health Board Meeting Date: August 11, 2005 at 5 PM in Happy Camp.
Leaf Hillman moved and Alvis Johnson seconded to adjourn at 10:55 PM. 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Yootva,
_________________________________
Arch Super, Chairman
Recording Secretary, Sara Spence