Place: Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County

Southwest Florida Regional HIV/AIDS Council (RHAC)

Date: May 21, 2014

Time: 9:30AM – 12:00 PM

Attendees: Attached list

P. Dobbins called the meeting to order at 9:30 AM. Introductions were made around the room.
R. Bobo asked to pull the May, 2014 Supervisors’ Meeting minutes from the consent agenda. There was discussion regarding items being required for the FTTY for new clients this year. R. Bobo suggested that the amount of items required has become “voluminous”. P. Brown stated that these concerns have been passed on to J. Flores and Antonia Dawkins. The draft is not final language, and HPC is fighting the issue on the grounds of its duplicity as well as privacy concerns. P. Brown stated that she hopes this draft is incorrect, and that she will keep RHAC posted. R. Bobo moved to accept the consent agenda; A. Gallagher seconded the motion. There was no discussion. The motion carried.

The group reviewed the minutes from the March, 2014 RHAC meeting. M. Cuffage moved to accept the minutes as presented. P. Kurtz seconded the motion. There was no discussion. The motion carried.

M. Waite reported on the financial reports for two Ryan White contracts. For the Ryan White contract for April 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014, everything was spent down but $8,060. Most of what was remaining was in dental. P. Brown stated that is good, considering we are not allowed budget revisions in the last thirty days of the contract. We spent about 99.5% of the budget. V. Clarke suggested contacting Antonia Dawkins regarding making revisions in the last thirty days of the contract. P. Brown stated that HPC has raised this concern in the past. R. Bobo suggested that the HAPC take this on again. V. Clarke agreed to draft a letter to address this.

M. Cuffage asked what happens when we go negative on a line item. P. Brown stated that HPC swallows the loss.

The next contract started in April. We are currently over in dental, drug, and health insurance. However, we are on the same track as we were at this same time last year. P. Brown reminded us that this is flat funding. R. Bobo asked about discussion on different line items being funded at the Planning Session. P. Brown said we will be able to question that during the next RFP. The Planning Committee will further look into that and help decide the next steps.

HOPWA was reported through the end of April. We are down from the same time last year. We have 61% remaining.

AICP was reported on through contract-end (April, 2014). 97 clients had their premiums paid, which is down from 125 people last year. R. Bobo asked about ACA health insurance plans. P. Brown stated that Part B pays for co-pays and deductibles. There is a very small line item for insurance through Ryan White. This covers about 15 people (as budget allows).

P. Kurtz gave an update on from the Bylaw Committee. Some specific items that she felt the full RHAC membership should discuss included including the use of electronic communication (Poly-Com system), and allowing administrators to designate a proxy.

P. Kurtz asked if there is still an Advisory Group in each county. M. Cuffage stated that there is HANS in Sarasota. K. Medina stated that there is a Lee County Providers’ meeting, which includes clinical, case management, hospital, OB, but no consumers. N. Greene stated that the HIV coalition has previously been unsuccessful, but they will be continuing to try – the group will be meeting the following week. R. Bobo stressed that we need to continuously work toward getting more consumers at the table. V. Clarke asked if consumers had difficulty getting to meetings. It was stated that HPC pays for their travel.

P. Kurtz requested feedback from the group on the bylaws. Any suggestions are to be sent directly to P. Kurtz.

K. Hustad gave an update on the TBRA program. She stated that she and P. Brown met with the City of Fort Myers Housing Authority. They will be determining eligibility for property and vouchers. Monroe County is on board to help with technical assistance.

HOPWA money that Area 8 normally sends back will be converted to 25-30 Section 8-type vouchers for clients whose income is so low they cannot find affordable housing and clients who have the ability to become self-sufficient but not in five months. The plan is to start in Lee County and get the kinks worked out before expanding. HPC would pay the rent for TBRA clients; Housing Authority would help with inspections and finding the landlords.

Timing is unknown at this point. It is possible that we would have everything ready on our end by June, at which time it could be presented to Tallahassee.

J. Acevedo gave an update on the RHAC Prevention Committee and the most recent PPG meeting. He stated that all state prevention money has arrived. Funding in Broward and Miami counties increased. Headquarters asked ETI programs to pull out 19% of their allocated budget for technical assistance for filing claims with insurance plans.

He stated that Patient Care and Prevention are considering replacing CareWare.

Opt-out bill was passed. This means that HIV testing must be disclosed to patients, and they can opt-out if they wish. Dr. Beal stated that at the health department they still use written consent for testing, and that most places still use a written informed consent.

J. Acevedo stated that the monitoring and evaluation of the HIP program is nearly complete. It should be available at the next RHAC meeting. Also at the next RHAC meeting, he would like to have a Prevention-focused meeting. R. Bobo suggested we send a formal letter to Marlene LeLota if we want her to come down for the meeting. P. Brown suggested that J. Acevedo draft the letter. V. Clarke suggested it be signed by P. Dobbins.

J. Acevedo offered thanks to all the prevention representatives that attended the Team Building session. P. Dobbins stated that she had received positive feedback on the event and would like to repeat it.

R. Bobo gave the PCPG Update. He stated that there are changes to 64D-4 and an ADAP update regarding changes in the normal way of doing business. There was a presentation on the Continuum of Care in the state of Florida. P. Brown stated that there was a good presentation on mental health clients. V. Clarke will try to track down that presentation and/or presenter.

V. Clarke gave an update on the Continuum of Care Committee and HAPC business. Continuum of Care/Planning Committee met last month to identify gaps in services in Area 8. The next meeting will be June 18th. S. Murphy offered McGregor Clinic as a meeting location. P. Brown stated that this group will be patient focused, S. McIntosh and V. Clarke are the Chairs

R. Bobo suggested the group incorporate a moment of silence for those who have worked with us and have passed on. The group observed silence.

P. Dobbins adjourned the meeting at 11:11 AM.