Monday, April 27, 2015

Health and Hospitals System Board Meeting April 24, 2015



CEO Dr. Jay Shannon commended CountyCare for the University of Illinois health researchers’ findings that the rollout of the Medicaid expansion achieved all stated goals: (1) to assist the state in enrolling 115,000 in Medicaid; (2) to quickly develop an inclusive, comprehensive network and deliver expanded access to Medicaid covered services including substance abuse and mental health services; and (3) to deliver necessary care to more than 2/3 of this population in the first six months, and more than 85% in the first 12 months.   

Dr. Shannon commended Dr. Raju and President Preckwinkle for getting the Medicaid waiver, and he spoke highly of the implementation team, especially Susan Green, Mary Sadak and Dr. Jennifer Smith in developing the patient-centered medical home, as well as Bill Baker for his success in negotiating contracts.  Dr. Shannon spoke of the rollout as an “entirely grassroots phenomenon”, with virtually no advertising.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
Quality and Patient Safety: Stroger and Provident Hospital still lag far behind in on-time surgery starts, owing to advance paperwork requirements, complexity of scheduling, and staff break times. Due to noise levels, lack of cleanliness, and long wait times, overall hospital patient satisfaction is only 63%, though improvement efforts are under way.  Patient satisfaction level is 68% for ambulatory clinics.

Managed Care: CountyCare membership now totals 179,000, ahead of goal and budget, roughly 50/50 male-female, average age early 30s, #2 in membership for the greater Chicago region as of February, a 33% growth in Cook County in March.  The pharmacy is moving to 90-day prescriptions to save cost. CountyCare’s primary challenges are (1) the Medicaid eligibility determination process is slow; (2) patients experience confusion regarding referrals and intake; and (3) patients need better understanding of the medical home assignment process.

Human Resources: The hiring process still requires 180 days, with a goal of 139 days.  Board member Lewis Collens pointed out, “Our competition can hire in 25-30 days!”   CCHHS is burdened by collective bargaining, the Shakman decree, and internal inefficiencies.

Finance: CountyCare is now turning a profit; fewer than 25% of CCHHS patients are uninsured. 

CIO Donna Hart spoke of the challenges of managing the health information services, with over 6,000 users logging onto the Cerner system, and 8,490 email mailboxes. Maintaining the Cerner system requires over $42m annually.  A challenge is that some sites use the EPIC platform, difficult to coordinate with the Cerner system.  A $5m contract to Chamberlin Edmonds & Assoc. for CountyCare eligibility/enrollment was approved, as well as a $3.5m contract for Superior Ambulance Services.  Contracts are moving toward competitive bid.

Dr. Shannon mentioned the Tribune article summarizing hospital ratings, allocating only 2 stars to Stroger, alluding to the hospital’s need for cleanliness, a functioning call center, appointment system, and the urgency of the need for change in this competitive environment.

Employment Officer Carrie Pramuk-Volk, Office of Compliance Administrator Mary Robinson, and Inspector General Patrick Blanchard helped the board understand how the Shakman decree has affected hiring in the past, how board members may make staff recommendations without violating the decree, and how the new employment plan compliance training may speed hiring and increase transparency in the future.


Submitted by Linda Christianson

Monday, April 20, 2015

Report of the Forest Preserve of Cook County (FPDCC) April 14, 2015 Meeting



Board meetings often begin with the reading of resolutions honoring an individual or organization for achievement, or commemorating the life, accomplishments, and memory of a notable person with Forest Preserve connections.  The April 14 meeting was no exception, as both the late Billy Casper and the non-profit Neighborspace were so honored.

Many commissioners remarked about the kindness and generosity of national golf champion Billy Casper the individual, as well as the professionalism of his business Billy Casper Golf, which has had a contract for a number of years to operate all the District's golf courses.  Prior to retaining Billy Casper Golf, the District golf courses were in poor shape; today, they are well-managed and in very good condition.  Billy Casper Golf also runs the FPDCC campgrounds.

Commissioner Deborah Sims sits on the board of directors of Neighborspace, a partnership between the private sector, community organizations (churches, block clubs, schools), and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, the City of Chicago, and the Chicago Park District.  Neighborspace secures land that is too small or too fragmented to be part of the FPDCC holdings.  It  has acquired more than 100  parcels that are utilized for nature play areas, community gardens, small parks, and natural areas and are maintained by volunteers.

Agenda items of interest included:

#15-0213 & 15-0214:  In Palos Park, the $5 million proposed acquisition from the Catholic Bishop of Chicago (aka the Chicago Archdiocese) of 162.64 acres of high quality open space that includes a large, mature oak woodlands, and a diverse habitat mixture of wetland, lake, and open field.  It is in the watershed and includes the headwater of the stream that created and still flows through the nearby Sagawu Canyon Nature Preserve.  This property is adjacent to the Cap Sauers Nature Preserve, one the District's largest natural areas. 

#15-0237 & 15-0243:  Proposed fee schedules for the new aerial adventure & zipline course (depending on activity, the rates will be $12-57 with a 30% reduction for nonprofit organizations) (15-0237); and boat rental fees (ranging from $15/hour for rowboats, single kayak, or paddle boats to $20 for canoes, tandem kayaks, &  electric motor boats)(15-243).   

#15-0245:  Proposed amendments to contracting provisions (Title 1 Chapter 8 Section2 of the FPDCC Code), including conditions & restrictions on awarding a contract, exceptions to those conditions & restrictions, and selection of professional services for debt transactions.

#15-0248:  Proposed changes to the section of the code governing when permits are required.

#15-0249:  Proposed change on the types of boating devices that can be used on designated District properties, to include kayaks and SUPs (stand-up paddleboards).  Advocates for SUPs, a newer phenomenon in Chicago but commonly used on the east & west coasts, supported their inclusion but encouraged the FPDCC to provide qualified instruction in their use. 

#15-0303:  Proposed amendment expanding the ban on use of tobacco and marijuana in any form  (smoking, inhaling, exhaling, burning, consuming, carrying of any lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, vaporizer, snuff, snus, chewing tobacco) on FPDCC property or in owned or leased District vehicles.

#15-0238:  Approved a 3-year contract with Chicago Canoe and Kayak, Evanston to operate the boat concession at Busse Boat House.  At this time, canoes and kayaks only will be available but Superintendent Randall will explore the possible addition of stand-up paddleboards. #15-0239:  T&M Lakes, Inc., Orland Park was awarded the 3-year boat concession contracts for the Tampier and Maple Lake Boat Houses.

#15-0257:  Receipt of a 3-year, $452,000 grant (through the Cook County Department of Public Health) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Prevention Partnerships to Improve Community Health program.  The purpose is to increase residents' awareness and promote physical activity in the forest preserves as part of the Healthy HotSpot Initiative.  #15-0246 goes into detail about preparation of a 10 site "Gateway Plan"  to engage visitors.

#15-0263:  Approval of an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Rosemont to construct a pedestrian bridge over the Des Plaines River near Bryn Mawr Avenue that would provide access to the Catherine Chevalier Woods.  Rosemont will be responsible for the design, construction and maintenance and there will be no cost to FPDCC.  Rosemont Mayor Bradley Stephens was in attendance.

#15-0272:  Through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, this Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant ($439,000 + $95,000 match by FPDCC) is for control of buckthorn and garlic mustard at the Calumet City Prairie, Jurgensen Woods, Thornton-Lansing Road Woods, and Wampum Lake.

#15-0291:  Filing of the FY2014 Business Diversity Report

The final item of business is always a list of the upcoming monthly conservation and experiential programming activities occurring throughout the FPDCC. Publicity does not appear to be the District's forte.  Please consider contacting your local media to post these events, most of which are free.

Submitted by Sheri Latash

Monday, April 6, 2015

Cook County Committees & Board of Commissioners Meeting Wednesday, April 1, 2015



The board meeting was called to order at noon as committee meetings took longer than scheduled.   Three Committee items of note:

Commissioner Boykin introduced an Ordinance [15-1565] banning the use of Choke Holds by Law Enforcement within the County.  Some commissioners felt the ordinance was a duplication of state law being considered and could lead to a increase in law suits filed.  The Ordinance passed in the Criminal Justice Committee and later by the full board.

Legislative & Intergovernmental Relations Committee:  Amy Patton Campanelli was unanimously approved in Committee and then at the full board meeting to be the next Cook County Public Defender serving a 6 year term, effective April 1, 2015.

Ms. Campanelli spoke about how delighted she was to be appointed the countys second female Public Defender since the department was established in 1930, in the second largest Public Defenders office in the country. Ms. Campanelli listed her five goals, with reasonable bond her top priority. The other four goals are to end the practice of prosecuting children in adult court, proactive community outreach, expand the special courts, such as mental and drug courts, and to offer consistent training programs to public defenders.

Finance Committee:  Commissioner Gainer expressed serious skepticism about the Hospital Systems efforts to take in-house its collection efforts and asked for calls to be made to other Chicago hospitals to see if any have in-house collection operations and their experience.

Board Meeting: At 12:10pm, Commissioner Daley offered the consent calendar for approval. Calendar discussion continued until 12:25 and included a tribute to Jan Ortwell, former President of the League of Women Voters of Illinois and Director of the IL Dept. of Aging.

Resolution 15-2499. Lengthy discussion occurred regarding this resolution urging the General Assembly to pass legislation to reform percentage based bail bond fees. The issue is whether the current 10% of posted bail bond, which is a state statute, should be changed to cap the bond fee at $100 which is closer to the cost of processing.  Several commissioners wondered whether requesting other levels of government to take action is worthwhile. Others felt that passing resolutions is a way to ask other government levels to listen to the Countys concerns particularly when the issue in question primarily affects Cook County.  The resolution passed.

Resolution 15-2421. Commissioner Schneider introduced with sponsorship from Arroyo, Fritchey, Gorman, Goslin, Moore and Silvestri, which stated: The members of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County .shall oppose a property tax increase and look for other methods to fill the budget shortfalls in the 2016 CC fiscal budget.  Daley moved that the resolution was out of order and President Preckwinkle agreed.  A roll call vote was called which resulted in the motion being defeated by a comfortable margin.  Schneider stated that he would contact the States Attorney for validation of the motion and ruling.

Resolution #15-2463 offered by Commissioner Tobolski and sponsored by all attending commissioners to engage in outreach for Veteran-owned businesses was moved to the Veterans Committee.

Resolution # 150961. The Bureaus of Technology, Finance, and Assessors office asked for a $1,633,594 increase and a contract extension through 2019 with Acxiom Corporation in order to run parallel systems while implementing the new platforms. Several commissioners expressed frustration at the continued request for money with no concrete assurances that the problems are resolved and a solid plan and timetable are in place. The new Chief Procurement Officer stated that she is confident this money is needed and that over the next two years more platforms will be up and running with the entire project completed by 2019. The Contract extension passed. 

15-2372. The Assessors Office proposed a contract amendment to add $600,000 for [tax] fraud  collection research. Sixty percent of the data gained via this contractor have been good hits. Commissioner Gainer expressed privacy concerns with all the data generated. It was stated that the data was deleted shortly after the search was completed.

Resolution #152543 opposing right to work zones was referred to the Legislative Committee.

Commissioner Gainer asked commissioners to support colleges in reporting sexual abuse attacks on campus. 

A note: 16 commissioners were in attendance at the start of the board meeting and 13 were in attendance at conclusion.  We observers were very pleased to see Commissioner Suffredin back from his medical absence.

Submitted by:  Laura Davis & Diane Edmundson