Director of Social Services Todd Goins explains the North Carolina Medicaid expansion.
By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
It may have been a short agenda, but when the Clay County Board of Commissioners had their meeting on Thursday, Nov. 2 a lot was announced.
Director of Social Services Todd Goins explained to commissioners how North Carolina Medicaid expansion will help several hundred additional Clay County residents when it begins Friday, Dec. 1.
“It is approaching rapidly. We have received money to facilitate the expansion and those funds will expire in a couple of years” he said. “We have used them for training, technology upgrades and other related needs.”
Goins added, “You should be very proud of your DSS staff. We expect 600 to 700 more people to become eligible in Clay County, but the staff is handling the new clients, along with the current caseload. They are picking up this program without any additional employees.”
Goins said someone from the state had visited Clay DSS and they are only one of two departments in the state to score 100 percent in all Medicaid areas.
Goins said Clay County currently has about 3,000 Medicaid clients and some will roll over to the new plan. This does not cost the county anything; however, people from 19-64 will have more healthcare opportunities, especially for those people at 133 percent of federal poverty line.
“In other words, more working families can get some help with medical care and some dental care,” Goins said.
Commissioner Clay Logan asked, ”Will this help lift people up?” Goins replied, “I hope so.”
Examples are income for single persons must be $20,120 or less, a family of two must be $27,214 or less, a family of four must be $41,400 or less and a family of six will need to make $55,586 or less. Complete details are available at the Department of Social Services, or by mailing a paper application which is available at: www.ncgov.servicenowservices.com.
Goins also shared about a planned annex for DSS to assist with taking care of children in DSS custody. He wrote a $50,000 grant, with assistance from County Manager Debbie Mauney and Clay Health Director Clarissa Rogers. The grant will furnish and equip the homes, with everything from cribs, high chairs and car seats to diapers.
“A couple of houses were bought near DSS so kids in custody do not have to sleep on cots on the floor of DSS,” Goins explained. “This facility will also be used for family visitation since we sometimes have two to three visits going on at once. It will also be used for some adult professional services, in limited cases.”
When Commissioner Dwight Penland asked if family visits are supervised, Goins answered, “Yes, parents are observed through a one-way mirror and the staff can hear what is being said,” he said. “Staffing will be another issue, too.”
Sheriff Mark Buchanan was at the commissioners’ meeting and said they would work with DSS to ensure the safety of the children, as well as the social workers at the new facility.
Rogers followed Goins with other information. “We hope to be able to piggy-back off what this facility will offer,” she said. “We can have our certified car seat installer put the car seats into vehicles. We can also bring the nutritionist to the families to show them healthy ways to cook food. This will maximize our resources to families about what is available.”
Rogers also presented the Department of Health Strategic Plan to the commissioners for approval. The department’s current strategic plan is set to expire next year, but Rogers said they felt they needed to update now. She said the document is very comprehensive and includes information such as the Community Health Assessment. Each commissioner received a copy of the document and they voted to approve it on behalf of the county.
Rogers also received approval on the All-Hazards Plan which she presented to the commissioners. “It is pretty comprehensive,” she explained. “Ben English and I did this 67 page document, which allows us to prep and respond to growing threats.”
Mauney shared the Digital Inclusion Plan, which she said calls for all residents and businesses in the county to be able to have digital access. A committee including Mauney, Sandy Zimmerman, Commissioner Clay Logan and Todd Goins worked to improve access to broadband and dead spots. “Even homebound residents will benefit. This can give them telehealth. Approval of the plan will make the county eligible for grants to fund this, but the county will not have to incur any costs,” Mauney added.
In other news, ABC Board member Buck Shaver was reappointed for a three year term. ABC board members are not paid positions.
The commissioners also announced they are changing their monthly meeting time. The water and sewer board will meet at 6:30 p.m. and the commission meeting will follow as soon as the water and sewer is over, whether it is at 6:40 or 6:55.