REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HOSPITALS
(recessed
and reconvened on
The Honorable,
The Board of Commissioners of
ATTENDANCE
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Present: |
President Stroger and Chairman Butler, Vice Chairman
Goslin, Commissioners Beavers, Claypool, Collins, Daley, Gorman, Maldonado,
Moreno, Murphy, Peraica, Quigley, Schneider, Silvestri, Sims, Steele and
Suffredin (17) |
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Absent: |
None (0) |
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Also
Present: |
Robert R. Simon, M.D.- Interim Chief, Bureau of Health
Services; Patrick T. Driscoll, Jr. – Deputy State’s Attorney, Chief, Civil
Actions Bureau. |
Ladies and
Gentlemen:
Your Committee on Health &
Hospitals of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice
on
Pursuant to
Cook County Code, Section 2-108 (f)(2), Chairman
Butler stated due to the lack of a quorum the Committee on Health &
Hospitals will stand in recess until
Your Committee has considered the
following item and upon adoption of this report, the recommendation is as
follows:
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289092 |
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE BUREAU OF HEALTH SERVICES TO
DISCONTINUE FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS FOR NON-COOK PROPOSED RESOLUTION RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE BUREAU OF HEALTH SERVICES TO DISCONTINUE FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS FOR NON-COOK WHEREAS, the Bureau of Health Services
and its hospitals and clinics serve as the anchor for the safety net serving
the metropolitan Chicago region’s ever-increasing number of uninsured or
underinsured citizens, not only in Cook County, but also the neighboring
counties and in some cases beyond; and WHEREAS, the Bureau of Health Services
not only provides health care services, but also pharmacy prescription
services to said citizens; and WHEREAS, for the period of September 1st,
2006 to December 31st, 2006, 6% of all prescriptions were filled and
delivered to non-Cook County resident patients for a total of 257,000 prescriptions at a cost of $4.6 million;
and WHEREAS, under the leadership of the Board
of Commissioners and President Stroger, the Bureau of Health Services has and
continues to make a concerted effort to resolve its financial shortcomings;
and WHEREAS, despite these ongoing efforts,
further cuts in core services may result without increased funding; and WHEREAS, Cook County cannot continue to
provide care for the indigent population for both residents and non-residents
of Cook County, without increased assistance from other governments,
providers, insurers and health care stakeholders; and WHEREAS, in order to avoid
additional cuts in services, the Bureau of Health Services must consider
ceasing the provision of non-emergency medical services including pharmaceuticals
to Non-Cook County resident patients; and WHEREAS, this
measure is needed to preserve the already limited county healthcare resources
to provide for the residents of
NOW, THEREFORE, BE
IT RESOLVED, that
the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby request that the Bureau of
Health Services discontinue the provision of non-emergency pharmaceuticals to
uninsured Non-Cook County resident patients, or those not eligible
for Medicare and Medicaid Benefits effective December 1, 2007 unless the
patients residing county enters into a Governmental Agreement with Cook
County to reimburse the county for such services thereby conserving
healthcare resources for the residents of Cook County. BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that
this resolution shall be implemented through the following recommendations
from the Bureau of Health Services: 1. Provide emergency service and fill prescription for
emergency department visits regardless of county of residence. 2. All clinic visits for out-of-county patients must be
referred to Limit of Liability (LOL) with appointment for screening, etc.
before prescription is filled. Limit of Liability (LOL) provides the out-of-county
patients who have no form of payment, with a list of collar counties Public
Health Departments and 3. All in-patients will be given only a 1 month supply of
medication and referred to Limit of Liability (LOL) (should already be done)
for processing. If the patient qualifies for a program, continue to provide
prescription services as we would for an in-county resident. If not, Limit of
Liability (LOL)_ provides the same list of other
counties information as in #2. Patient is advised that they must get their
refills through their own county’s system. 4. Recommend that a strong attempt be made to contract with
collar counties to pay Medicaid rates for scripts and clinic visits by their
medically indigent patients. 5. No mail order prescriptions will be filled after a
letter is sent with the final refill. A letter should be sent to non-county
residents stating that “this will be the last script filled (one month
supply) and to contact their local county public health department.” For
emergency refills, the patient will need to come to the Emergency Room or Ambulatory Screening Clinic.
This would be humane and more than that which is offered in other
places. *Referred to the
Committee on Health and Hospitals on |
Commissioner Moreno,
seconded by Commissioner Murphy, moved the approval of Communication No.
289092.
Commissioner Silvestri suggested that the resolve clause be
amended to include effective
Commissioner
Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Peraica, moved to amend the resolution by
including the following language in the “Now therefore be it resolved”
paragraph: Effective December 1, 2007
unless the patients residing county enters into an Intergovernmental Agreement
with Cook County to reimburse the county for such services. The motion carried.
Commissioner Suffredin suggested to the sponsors if they
would consider amending the resolution to add Dr. Simons’ five (5) points.
Commissioner Moreno,
seconded by Commissioner Murphy, moved to amend the resolution by adding the five
(5) points from Dr. Simon. The motion
carried.
Chairman Butler asked the Secretary to the Board to read the
second amendment into the record.
Matthew B. DeLeon, Secretary to
the Board advised the Committee that the second amend is in the new Now,
Therefore, Be It Resolved Clause.
Further, a new Be It Further Resolved Clause should be added to reflect
the following language: that this
resolution shall be implemented through the following recommendations from the
Bureau of Health Services:
1. Provide emergency service and fill prescription for
emergency department visits regardless of county of residence.
2. All clinic visits for out-of-county patients must be
referred to Limit of Liability (LOL) with appointment for screening, etc.
before prescription is filled.
Limit of Liability (LOL) provides the out-of-county patients
who have no form of payment, with a list of collar counties Public Health
Departments and
3. All in-patients will be given only a 1 month supply of
medication and referred to Limit of Liability (LOL) (should already be done)
for processing. If the patient qualifies for a program, continue to provide
prescription services as we would for an in-county resident. If not, Limit of
Liability (LOL)_ provides the same list of other
counties information as in #2. Patient is advised that they must get their
refills through their own county’s system.
4. Recommend that a strong attempt be made to contract with
collar counties to pay Medicaid rates for scripts and clinic visits by their
medically indigent patients.
5. No mail order prescriptions will be filled after a letter
is sent with the final refill. A letter should be sent to non-county residents
stating that “this will be the last script filled (one month supply) and to
contact their local county public health department.” For emergency refills,
the patient will need to come to the Emergency Room or Ambulatory Screening Clinic.
This would be humane and more than that which is offered in other places.
Commissioner Moreno,
seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved the approval of Communication No.
289092 as amended. The motion carried.
Chairman Butler asked the Secretary to the Board to call on
the public speaker.
PUBLIC SPEAKER
1. George
Blakemore, Concerned Citizen
Commissioner Silvestri moved to
adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Steele. The motion carried and the meeting was
adjourned.
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Respectfully
submitted, Committee
on Health & Hospitals xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Jerry
Butler, Chairman |
Attest:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Matthew B. DeLeon, Secretary