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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8022 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No, 8022 WTF To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 13, 1996 X Subject: 1873 Assessing Roles, Responsibilities, Activities and Governance of the Fort Worth/Tarrant County Public Health Departments in a Managed Care Environment The City of Fort Worth/Tarrant County Public Health Departments are two separate fiscal entities currently united under one director and one administrative umbrella. The Departments combine available resources to provide the core public health functions of assessment, policy development and assurance. The major changes currently taking place across the United States in the way health care services are financed and delivered are likely to create significant challenges for local public health departments. It is critical that we step back and evaluate what specific activities we should carry out in fulfilling our obligations to the health of our community. In a managed care environment, what services should a local public health department provide? The time is also right to take a closer look at the City/County partnership roles and evaluate our current rather onerous governance structure wherein a local department of public health reports to two political entities with occasional conflicting policies and goals. In addition to the changing environment, the resignation of Dr. Nick Curry from his post as Public Health Director, creates a further imperative to address these questions now, prior to recruiting a new director. Otherwise we may see a reluctance of potential applicants to apply for a position with so many issues looming. Dr. Curry's last day in the office will be August 16, 1996. During the interim period between Dr. Curry's departure and the assumption of duties by the new director, Assistant City Manager Libby Watson will serve as Acting Department Director. Dr. Alecia Hathaway will be designated the Health Authority (State law requires a physician to serve in this capacity). In order to scrutinize these issues, we are proposing to host two, two-day conferences that will unite regional experts in the areas of managed care and public health as well as other professional/ community organizations and institutions. This "Blue Ribbon" panel will be convened to study the governance issues and make recommendations to the Fort Worth City Council and the Tarrant County Commissioners Court. This panel will include: Mayor Kenneth Barr,Mayor oj'Fort Worth or a member of the Fort Worth City Council Judge Tom Vandergriff, Tarrant County Judge or a member of the Commissioners Court Hardy Murphy Chair qfdPS Health Network Board of Directors or a Member of the Board Dr. Fernando Trevino, Chair of Public Health and Prevention Medicine, 0, University of North Texas Health Science Center OFFICIAL RECO"'. 'y Tim Philpot, CEO ofdPS Health Network CITY SECRETARY F11". WORTH, TEX. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8022 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 13, 1996 Page 2 of 2 rexp5 Subject: Im Assessing Roles, Responsibilities, Activities and Governance of the Fort Worth/Tarrant County Public Health Departments in a Managed Care Environment G. K. Maenius, County Administrative Officer Paul Nannis, Commissioner of Health, City of Milwaukee (Past President, U.S. Conference of Local Health Officers) Libby Watson,Assistant City Manager, City of Fort Worth A representative from the office of State Health Commissioner David Smith At these conferences, there are many questions to be asked and answered including: • What are the appropriate core functions of the local public health department? Considering the move to managed care, what is the future for both the insured and uninsured residents of Tarrant County including indigent residents, who currently utilize the public health care system? To what extent should providers of medical services be a part of public health? • What is the necessary education process for the community? How can the community be engaged? What should be the shared view of the Departments in the areas of health and illness? • If the public health department opts out of the provision of medical care, what are the joint health care assessment measures that should be adopted by the Departments to assure the health of our community? The agenda at the conferences will include addressing many of the issues identified in small group discussions at the National Congress on Medicine and Public Health Initiatives in March, 1996. An outcome of this project will be to identify ways that medicine and public health officials can open lines of communication between these groups, create partners within the two communities and begin to educate them regarding issues relevant to both disciplines. Recommendations of the panel could be used as a basis to design a whole new policy in the public health delivery system throughout Tarrant County. It is anticipated, that when complete, 0/4* the recommendations could act as a model for other such systems throughout the United States. UFFICIAL: RECORD O� CITY 51."'CRE"TARY ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER 040*00.1-IMAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8022 M FOR% To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 13, 1,996 r Page3 of x Subject: 1873 Assessing Roles, Responsibilities, Activities and Governance of the Fort WorthlTarrant County Public Health Departments in a Managed Care Environment Any suggestions for panel membership or issues to put before the panel from City Council members would most certainly be welcome. We will keep you informed as a time line for panel activity is developed. If you would like additional information, please don't hesitate to contact me or Assistant City Manager Libby Watson. Bob Terrell City Manager URCIAL REC"0i"10 CITY SECRETARY FT. WOR MY TEX ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS