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NHCSB Meeting Minutes for April 14, 2014
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A Community Mental Health / Developmental Disabilities / Addictive Diseases
Program
Administration
P.O. Box 5328
2100 Comer Avenue (706) 596-5582
Columbus, GA 31906 FAX (706) 596-5589
Serving Residents of Chattahoochee, Clay, Harris, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph,
Stewart and Talbot Counties
or 24-Hour Emergency Services Call (706) 323-0174 or Toll Free (800) 241-3659
CLINICAL SERVICES PROGRESS REPORT:
Expanded Jail Services: The contract for New Horizons to provide mental health
services at the Muscogee County Jail is on the agenda for a vote at tomorrow?s
City Council meeting. The ground work has been done and some contract
adjustments made. It has been a long process, but we anticipate services will
begin April 1st.
Case Management Services:
Cornerstone Upgrades:
Crisis Stabilization Unit Update:
Serving Residents of Chattahoochee, Clay, Harris, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph,
Stewart and Talbot Counties
For 24-Hour Emergency Services Call (706) 323-0174 or Toll Free (800) 241-3659
Sherman presented information on FY15 performance based contracts, discussed in
a meeting held earlier this month with the Commissioner and other DBHDD staff.
New contracts will be comparable to FY14 contracts regarding service provisions
and dollar amounts, but will be more closely monitored to show numbers are
being met with outcomes measures to ensure treatment plan goals are being
reached. FY16 contracts will be based on performance results for FY15. The
Commissioner emphasized that CSBs are the safety net for consumers and must be
healthy financially and provide quality services. Andrea Winston added that
CSBs are in the Tier 1 level of core service providers and are the only
providers eligible for supplemental grants. The Commissioner also reported
there would be no unfunded mandates.
REBRANDING: As was discussed in the February Board meeting, many CSBs have
changed their name, replacing Community Service Board with Behavioral Health.
Currently, out of 26 Georgia CSBs, 17 have changed their name, most recently
Albany CSB (now Aspire Behavioral Health) and the Cobb County CSB (soon to be
Cobb Behavioral Health). Board members requested a cost analysis for
changing New Horizons name and it was estimated $5,000 would cover legal fees,
signs, and stationery. M/S/P Nancy Schroeder/Anne Hopp to approve changing
the name from New Horizons Community Service Board to New Horizons Behavioral
Health and Developmental Disabilities, Board approved. The name change would
become effective July 1, 2014.
CORPORATE COMPLIANCE PLAN: The plan was sent to Board members prior to
today?s meeting for review. Cyndy Pattillo pointed out that the plan is
consistent with previous years with a few minor changes. M/S/P Linda
McElroy/Carol Greer to approve the plan, Board approved.
GRANT APPLICATION STATUS REPORT: The Grant Funding Update was reviewed
outlining SAMHSA, HUD, and other grant submissions. A number of grants were
submitted in March including Supportive Services for Veterans and Families,
Promoting Safe and Stable Families, Supportive Services and ESG funding for
Shelter Plus Care program, and a SAMHSA grant for Pregnant and Post-Partum
Women. Updates will be provided on other funding/grant applications as they
develop.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT: FINANCIAL OVERVIEW:
Current Financial Status: Valerie Bowden reported March ended with a
surplus of $38,436 and a year-to-date surplus of $58,324. While a surplus is
projected for the FY14 end of year, taking furlough vacations in November and
December, plus closing for ?snow days? had a significant negative impact.
Strategies to boost Medicaid by extending hours and opening some programs on
Saturdays have been implemented. The furlough plan for FY15 is to reduce the
number of furlough days from ten to eight and to stagger staff schedules rather
than close programs. The plan will be reviewed in January 2015 and changes
made if needed. The Cash Activity report illustrated a significant decrease
from September 2013 to January 2014, but a slight increase over the last two
months.
DD Medicaid Audit: The DD audit payback has been reduced from over $400,000 to a negotiated
amount of $53,000 to be paid over 13 weeks. Even with $35,000 in attorney
fees, the settlement saved the agency several hundred thousand dollars.
Serving Residents of Chattahoochee, Clay, Harris, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph,
Stewart and Talbot Counties
For 24-Hour Emergency Services Call (706) 323-0174 or Toll Free (800) 241-3659
DBHDD Annual Audit: New Horizons had received an initial letter from
the DBHDD Office of Internal Audit accepting our FY13 Audit Report.
Subsequently, we received another letter from the DBHDD Office of Internal
Audit noting that during a subsequent analysis they identified some
discrepancies on the Statement of Activities contained in the audit report.
Before the second letter was sent out, the DBHDD internal auditor had contacted
Valerie Bowden and the discrepancies had been resolved. Also contained in the
audit report is a set of Schedules of Revenues and Expenditures for the various
programs within New Horizons. These schedules should summarize and reconcile
back to the Statement of Activities. There was a flaw in the formulas imbedded
in the spreadsheets that summarized back to the Statement of Activities and
some of the individual line items could not be reconciled. The problem was
corrected and the Audit report was revised prior to the second letter being
sent out. None of the Schedules of Revenues and Expenditures were incorrect
and the total numbers on the Statement of Activities did not change after the
discrepancies were resolved. The numbers on the individual Schedules of
Revenues and Expenditures were not pulling to the appropriate lines on the
Statement of Activities. Procedures have been put into place to prevent this
from occurring in the future.
Nancy Schroeder asked if the Office of Internal Audit was satisfied with the
explanation and corrections and Valerie responded yes. Mr. Shorter voiced
concern that if the oversight was significant enough for the auditor to make
recommendations, had necessary adjustments been made to avoid problems in the
future. Valerie responded that going forward a team will review the audit
report and assured the Board that procedures have been put into place to
prevent a reoccurrence. New Horizons? accountant, Phillip Bowden, added that
Valerie has implemented a better system to roll over the schedules. The audit
report was available at the meeting for Board members to review.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Due to the previously announced meeting with the Commissioner
on May 12th, our next scheduled Board meeting date, Sherman asked if the Board
meeting could be rescheduled to Tuesday, May 13th. Nancy Schroeder responded
that she would be unable to attend that day, but all remaining Board members
agreed to the date change. Derrick Byrd has been reappointed to the Board
for another term by the Talbot County Commissioners. Board members were
reminded of the GACSB Board Retreat May 15th and 16th in Dublin, GA. If
interested in attending, they should respond by Friday, April 18th.
PUBLIC COMMENT: No comments were presented.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, M/S/P Lawrence Young/Nancy
Schroeder for the meeting to adjourn at 4:30 p.m., Board approved.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: At 4:35, the Board went into Executive Session.
_________________________________
Wesley Shorter
Chairperson
Serving Residents of Chattahoochee, Clay, Harris, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph,
Stewart and Talbot Counties
For 24-Hour Emergency Services Call (706) 323-0174 or Toll Free (800) 241-3659
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