Progress was reported at the Central Nevada Health District's monthly meeting on January 12 which included updates on various applications and registrations, its organizational structure, and projected budgets.
Public Health Consultant Marena Works discussed the purpose of the federal Medicaid application, describing the need to be able to bill for clinical services. “We haven't actually applied yet to Medicaid, but we are getting all the pieces together. We need the EIN first.”
Transition Manager Caleb Cage of Arc Dome Strategies spoke about the status of their IRS EIN (Employer ID Number), DUNNS (Dunn and Bradstreet), and SAM (System for Award Management) registrations which he said were all in progress. “In establishing a new public organization, we have to get through a number of steps in order to ensure we are eligible for federal grants, and that we can receive dollars into accounts. Those include having an EIN, the SAM application approval as well as an assigned DUNNS number. These are the basic requirements for an entity that the federal or state government will ask for in the grant funding process.”
Cage also presented two proposals from Canyon Creative of Las Vegas, one for a new website for $4,725 and a second for $1,600 to update the CNHD logo. Both proposals were approved.
The board also approved submitting applications to join the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). Works said, “Joining these two organizations is very beneficial not only for the board members but for the district (CNHD) as a whole. To join NALBOH is $250 per year, and to join NACCHO is $260 per year. That gives anybody within the district, board members included, access to their website, and to their exclusive information for members only.” Board Chairman Mayor Ken Tedford stated he thought the population mattered for these applications and asked if this district was under 50,000. Works replied, “Yes, it does matter, and I think the fees are for population around 45,000 to 49,000 so we fall within the lower numbers for the entire district now.” The NACCHO application shows that their fee for the next population level starting at 50,000 is $560, more than double.
The organizational structure and proposed budgets were then reviewed, and it was stated the District Administrator position was approved and the job description posted. According to the agenda report, the budget outlines positions, services, supplies, and equipment anticipated to operate the Central Nevada Health District. Additional key operating positions needed to start include a full-time Bookkeeper, Clinical Services Manager, Environmental Health Manager, Public Health Program Manager, and Disease Investigator. The budget is estimated at $455,189 from January 1 through June 30, 2023.
The following 12-month budget period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, is estimated at $2,563,713 with staff positions increasing to include a Grant Writer, Community Health Nurse Supervisor, an Epidemiologist, nurses, specialists, community health workers, and various assistants. Staffing is the largest budget category for both periods, however, CNHD expenses are expected to be offset by revenue received from grants, and the collection of fees for services.
The operational plan for CNHD was reviewed and approved next, followed by discussions of upcoming grant opportunities from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), USDA, and WIC. Per the agenda report, the CNHD was asked by the Department of Public and Behavioral Health to consider offering WIC as part of its services in Churchill, Pershing, Lander, and Humboldt counties. Pershing County, which currently provides WIC services, would like an alternative option. The WIC grant opportunity is approximately $400,000 which is meant to cover all related expenses and is expected to make administration of the WIC program cost-neutral for CNHD.
The CNHD board plans to meet on the second Thursday of each month for the next 12 months after which they may consider a move to quarterly meetings. Meetings are held in the Churchill County Commission Chambers at 1:30 p.m.
Background information about the CNHD can be found in a prior story on “The Fallon Post” website, https://www.thefallonpost.org/news/5231,central-nevada-health-district-opening-date-set.
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