Montana Public Health Nursing Directors Meeting

 Public Health Nursing Directors
Meeting Minutes
April 12, 2011

Bylaws Review: Julie Serstad sent out a copy of the current bylaws by e-mail.  The e-mail included who is on the board and who the regional and tribal representatives are. Julie led the group in a section by section review of the bylaws:

--Organization Name: There was a general discussion on whether to include all public health nurses.  Consensus was quickly reached and it was agreed to change the name of the organization to reflect that change.

--New Nurses’ Orientation: This practice has fallen by the wayside. We can lobby for it to be reinstated; AMPHO is working on an orientation to include management, budgeting, reimbursement issues and core functions.  Stephanie Murphy made the motion to lobby for reinstatement of a new nurses’ orientation; Jody White seconded the motion. The motion passed.

--Regional Representatives: Julie suggested that we replace this arrangement with one in which any public health nurse who attends the meeting has a voice. The attendees generally agreed with this change.

--Election of Officers:  The Chair-elect is retiring.  Next elections will take place at the fall conference in Billings. A nominating committee, consisting of at least 2 people, is needed to search for a Chair and a Vice-Chair.  Stephanie Murphy, Kathy Helmeth and Judy Griffin volunteered to serve on the nominating committee.

--Liaison with MPHA: Currently, the Executive Board will choose the liaison.  Julie recommended that the immediate past chair assume the liaison position. All agreed.

--Annual Dues: Dues are $25 annually.  They are usually paid by a check box on the MPHA conference registration form.  Proposed bylaw change: dues will be paid by each local health department; all staff nurses will be welcome to attend the meetings. Note: please send in contact information for all the PHN’s on your staff.

The above proposed changes will be written formally and sent out to the membership at least one month before the fall meeting.

Update on Funding with regard to State Legislative Actions:

• Public Health Home Visiting Program—funding is stable (in the state’s general fund). 
• MCH Block Grant (federal) will be cut.  This will affect 54 counties.
• Affordable Health Care Act dollars – Denise is requesting an RFP for an evidence-based home visiting program.   There will be a meeting here on Thursday at 1 PM.  A collaborative is forming among the counties. Discussion followed.   Nurse-Family Partnership can bill based on the number of first births per year.  The state wants to fund one or two new programs. Is there a model that is less staff-intensive ?  The goal would be to train all PHN’s in home visiting.  Carol Kiester (Cascade Co.) spoke in favor of Parents as Teachers.  (They will opt out of NFP and stick with PAT; NFP is too expensive.)  NFP advocates for nurses as providers; PAT does not.  A consensus could not be reached as to which model to use.

Legislative Update:

• Child Restraint Law was passed. 
• The Immunization Law failed.

Judy Griffin initiated a discussion on individual county’s budget proposals. Despite the uncertainty of her Title X funding , she is requesting the same amount as last year.  She asked other PHN’s about their funding sources.  General exchange of information between counties ensued.  Of note: Riverstone (Yellowstone County)  bills for targeted case management (public health home visiting) through their FQCHC (Federally Qualified Community Health Center).

The meeting ended with a heartfelt congratulations to Carol Kiester who is retiring in May after 33 years in nursing.

 

Respectfully submitted,
Esther Wynne, RN
Secretary Pro Temp.