2019-01-30 Disability Board MinutesEDMONDS' DISABILITY BOARD
Meeting Minutes
Regularly Called Meeting
1 /30/2019
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Ken Jones, Chair
Gary McComas, Board Member
Dave Teitzel, Council Member
Diane Buckshnis, Council Member
Jim Distelhorst, Citizen -At -Large
STAFF PRESENT:
Mary Ann Hardie, Human Resources Director
Emily Wagener, Human Resources Analyst
Sharon Cates, City Attorney
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT:
Terry (last name omitted for privacy reasons),
CALL TO ORDER:
Chair Ken Jones called the meeting to order at 10:05 am. Human Resources Director Mary Ann Hardie
entered the meeting at 10:07 am. Member of the public, Terry (last name omitted for privacy reasons),
entered the meeting at 10:09 am.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Board Member Gary McComas moved to approve the minutes from the specially called
9/27/2018 meeting. Citizen -At -Large Jim Distelhorst seconded the motion. Council Member
Diane Buckshnis abstained. The motion passed.
DISCUSS AND APPROVE CLAIMS SUMMARY REPORT
Chair Ken Jones introduced the claims summary report for the fourth quarter of 2018.
Summary of Current Costs
10/01/2018 - 12/31/2018
SERVICE
Number of Claims
Total Paid for Service
Co -Insurance
1
$ 21.59
Dental Expenses
2
$ 309.00
Eyeglasses
2
$ 579.96
Long Term Care
6
$ 45,537.50
Medical Services
5
$ 701.67
Prescription
10
$ 3,336.87
Grand Total
26
$ 50,486.59
There was brief discussion regarding the reduction in number of long term care claims in the 4t" quarter
of 2017 vs. the 4t" quarter of 2018. Council Member Dave Teitzel made a motion to approve the
claims summary for the period 10/1/2018 - 12/31/18 in the amount of $50,486.59. Council Member
Buckshnis seconded the motion. The motion carried.
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REVIEW OF 2019 BUDGET
Ms. Hardie began a discussion of the historical costs related to long term care and how it might affect
future costs in 2019. Ms. Hardie confirmed to the Board that HR is monitoring the budget and that there
will likely need to be future adjustments (increases) to the long term care portion of the budget (such as
with an upcoming, 1st quarter budget amendment). Chair Jones clarified that there was nothing to move
forward with in relation to the budget at the meeting, but that it could be discussed again at a later time.
Council Member Buckshnis confirmed that a budget amendment can be brought forth at any time.
REVIEW/DISCUSSION OF A REQUEST FOR REIMBURSMENT FOR ASSISTED/LONG TERM
CARE FOR A LEOFF 1 MEMBER
Chair Jones introduced this item on the agenda. This particular LEOFF 1 Member recently entered long
term care. Council Member Buckshnis asked that the member of the public be introduced and allowed to
participate in the discussion. Chair Jones agreed but also explained the process in that the Board would
enter executive session while making a decision which would be communicated to the member of the
public after the close of executive session.
The guest introduced himself as Terry (last name omitted due to privacy reasons), the family member of
one of the City's LEOFF 1 members (and the LEOFF 1 member of discussion). Terry (last name omitted
due to privacy reasons) explained that this LEOFF 1 member's heath has declined rapidly over the last
year and that there was no choice but to put him in long term care. The LEOFF 1 member's wife was
also no longer able to care for him.
The Board thanked Terry (last name omitted due to privacy reasons) for attending then summarized to
Terry (last name omitted due to privacy reasons) the WA State Laws regarding reimbursement and the
disability Board's responsibilities. Terry (last name omitted due to privacy reasons) explained that this
LEOFF 1 member is unable to care for himself in even the most basic ways and that he had memory
issues. Terry (last name omitted due to privacy reasons) expressed that he was concerned over the
Board's request for a second opinion because he was concerned that such an appointment (at this time)
may cause the LEOFF 1 member's condition to worsen. He also expressed his frustration over the
general (Board approval) process, suggesting that it be easier for long term care to be approved and
reimbursed as it places a significant burden on a LEOFF 1 member's family.
There was some discussion among the Board regarding Terry's comments. Citizen -At -Large Distelhorst
mentioned that, in his experience, second opinions can be very helpful. He respectfully asked Terry (last
name omitted due to privacy reasons) to reconsider the second opinion as it may be able to improve this
LEOFF 1 member's overall quality of life, depending on what is discovered. Terry (last name omitted due
to privacy reasons) was receptive to Citizen -At -Large Distelhorst's comments but again expressed his
concerns indicating that the LEOFF 1 member was still unstable in the new environment (the long-term
care facility).
Council Member Teitzel commented that the Board's intention is not to make the process difficult but to
make sure that the Board has all the facts in order to make an informed decision and ensure that the
LEOFF 1 member's needs are being met fully. Terry (last name omitted due to privacy reasons)
responded and indicated while he understood that was not the intention, it felt that way. Terry (last name
omitted due to privacy reasons) mentioned that the City may want to consider providing a list of homes
or resources that a LEOFF 1 member or their family could reach out to for long -term -care support
services.
Council Member Teitzel mentioned that while the information was appreciated, the medical
documentation received to support this LEOFF 1 member's entry into long term care was not adequate.
Ms. Hardie indicated that she had reached out to the office manager at the long term care facility (that
the LEOFF 1 member of discussion was at) and had asked for additional information after receiving the
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referenced documentation electronically. She explained that she had not yet received a response from
the facility.
Chair Jones excused Terry (last name omitted due to privacy reasons) from the room to enter
Executive Session at 10:39 AM
Chair Jones invited Terry (last name omitted due to privacy reasons) back to the room after
Executive Session ended at 11:03 AM
Chair Jones explained to Terry (last name omitted due to privacy reasons) that the Board had come to
a final decision in the form of a motion with the following:
1. The Board will fund the long -term -care on a temporary basis.
2. The Board would still like the second opinion to take place but understands the concerns
regarding the LEOFF 1 member's stability and are willing to defer (rescheduled this appointment)
to a later date.
3. The Board would like to receive the LEOFF 1 Member's medical records, which would require a
medical release.
Chair Jones stressed that the documentation received to date is unfortunately insufficient and the above
requirements would help the Board to make an informed decision regarding the LEOFF 1 member's care.
Chair Jones further clarified that the Board was making an exception to the existing policy by allowing
the (temporary) reimbursement of the long -term -care expenses until suitable documentation is received
by the Board. Chair Jones stressed the fact that the Board is making an exception since the placement
of the LEOFF 1 Member into the long -term -care home should have been pre -approved by policy. Council
Member Teitzel clarified that the reimbursement will be temporarily approved through the 1It quarter of
2019.
Terry (last name omitted due to privacy reasons) thanked the Board and left the meeting. 11:15
am.
REVIEW/DISCUSS THE LONG TERM CARE (LTC) REIMBUSEMENT POLICY #08-11
Ms. Hardie clarified that the Board had previously intended to hold off on revising the LTC policy and
asked HR to reach out and see if there were any LTC insurance policies available to the City. Ms. Hardie
confirmed that she had reached out to the City's LEOFF 1 Medicare supplemental insurance plan broker
for this reason. Unfortunately, the broker indicated that most, if not all members would be ineligible based
on underwriting criteria and that it would be extremely cost prohibitive to move forward with any LTC
policy given the limited market (and in the unlikely possibility that they would be eligible).
The Board was understanding and appreciative of the results of Ms. Hardie's research into LTC coverage.
There was a brief discussion about reviewing and possibly adjusting the LTC policy. The Board chose to
defer the LTC policy review to the next regularly scheduled meeting. Ms. Hardie agreed that in the
meantime, HR will provide, upon request, LEOFF 1 members and their families with the previously
suggested resources (of elder and housing care advisory service providers) in order to provide adequate
support and mitigate the stresses involved with the process and requirements of the Disability Board
policy.
Council Member Buckshnis left the meeting at 11:20 am.
OTHER
Ms. Hardie indicated that the current term for the LEOFF 1 Police Representative to the Board was
expiring in April and asked Chair Jones if he intended to run again (to which he agreed). Ms. Hardie
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indicated the ballots would be going out to LEOFF 1 members and that the election results would be
shared at the next Disability Board meeting.
Ms. Hardie also indicated that the annual Washington State LEOFF Education Association (WSLEA)
Conference is coming up at the beginning of May if anyone wanted to attend to let HR know. Citizen -At -
Large Distelhorst asked that an agenda be sent out to the Board for review. Ms. Hardie confirmed that
she would forward the agenda along to the Board once it was available.
There was some discussion regarding dates for the next regular meeting. No date was agreed upon and
it was requested that HR send out suggested meeting dates via email.
Chair Jones adjourned the meeting at 11:19 AM.
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