As you know, the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County are partners in a consolidated public safety radio system. This system, one of the largest in the nation with 11,000 radios handling more than 1.5 million calls a month has a 99.97% service availability. This exceeds our service level agreement standards with the City, which operates the system.

 

When the consolidated system was formed in 2003, one of the goals was for it to become a regional network. Recently, the Gastonia Police Department has asked to join the system. It has agreed to provide radio frequencies that would be licensed to the system and pay the capital costs for this expansion. Also, the City is receiving $7 million in grant funds for a proposed 11-county interoperability project involving York, Lancaster, Lincoln, Catawba, Iredell, Stanley, Anson, Cabarrus, Union, Gaston, and Mecklenburg. The first 8 counties will be operational in December and the remaining 3 in the first quarter of 2007. Additionally, 23 radio frequencies have been re-licensed for countywide use. This is a major step that prepares the System for the new digital layer that is planned for future expansion of the System. The new digital layer will be a major expansion to the System and is primarily intended for emergency first responders. Finally, plans also are underway for a new simulcast tower to improve radio coverage in the Mint Hill area. The Board will be asked to approve this project, since it will require a user fee increase to pay for the capital cost of this tower.

 

 

You may have read the recent “Feedback” article on the editorial page in the Charlotte Observer written by Mr. Kenny Burrow, Vice President of Therapeutic Alternatives, Inc. dated December 6, 2006. This article suggested that individuals were not able to access appropriate services within the mental health system. The situation identified did not occur in Mecklenburg County. The Mecklenburg County Area Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Authority does not currently contract with Mr. Burrow’s agency, nor utilize the John Umstead Hospital.

 

Mr. Burrow describes the current single vendor system approach adopted by the state in March of this year as a benefit for both providers and consumers. The current vendor is Value Options, Inc. This position is in stark contrast to feedback received by AMHA from most of our network of providers, area advocates and more importantly, from our consumers. It is our experience that there have been significant and serious delays in receiving authorizations for services from Value Options, Inc.

 

All of the issues identified by Mr. Burrow could have been effectively mitigated by allowing the development of regionalized Area programs with a centralized and standardized business model. Mecklenburg County continues to advocate with the state for a regionalized authorization system allowing for greater local control and continuity of care for consumers. We are currently exploring partnership opportunities with other Local Management Entities to increase standardization of business processes.

 

The opinion offered by Mr. Burrow was in response to an article published by the Observer on November 24, 2006 regarding problems with the Value Options, Inc. transition and delays in children receiving services.

 

You will be receiving more detail regarding the local service delivery system early in 2007 as the Area Program develops its Local Management Entity Business Plan. The plan must be approved by the Board and submitted to the state by March 31, 2007. The plan will be presented to you in a Policy workshop in early March 2007. Further details about potential partnership opportunities will be explored in the plan.

 

 

This is a busy time of year for us all. As such, I would like to remind Board members that I will be on vacation from December 18 through January 2. General Manager Bobbie Shields will serve in the capacity of County Manager during the December 19 regular Board meeting. County offices are closed December 25 – 26 and January 1.

 

 

In last week’s bulletin, there was a summary of the State’s intentions to change transportation policies for clients of particular County services. To avoid any potential confusion on the issue, let me clarify that the changes to the Medicaid policy only apply to the transportation services provided to clients of Community Alternatives Program for Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities (CAP-MR/DD) and mental health enhanced benefit services. The policy states that service providers of the CAP-MR/DD and mental health enhanced benefit services are responsible for arranging and paying for their customer’s transportation. Another point of clarification is that the County does not pay for these services, but are reimbursed through Medicaid.

 

The State has communicated their intent to rescind and reissue this policy to provide better clarification for the affected customers and service providers. When the State gives final direction, I will provide an update to the Board. Should any member of the Board need additional information, please contact General Manager Janice A. Jackson at (704) 336-2086.