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County to weigh health report

Commissioners will take time to study a recommendation that a program for the poor return its focus to preventive care.

By BILL VARIAN
Published October 6, 2005

TAMPA - Hillsborough commissioners heard a report Wednesday recommending that a county program that provides health care for the poor return to its preventive care roots.

But commissioners held off on adopting the recommendations until they can pore over the details and will likely reshape the plan at a yet-to-be-scheduled workshop in the coming weeks.

"It's not a perfect plan, what we're presenting today, we recognize that," said Commissioner Mark Sharpe, who headed the study group that crafted the report over the past six months. "I think the work of this committee was outstanding, and I think what we have is a good plan."

The proposal for revamping the health care plan and restoring financial solvency includes returning to its initial focus on basic health care rather than paying for emergency room visits. It also emphasizes education, so that people with chronic illnesses might learn healthy habits to keep conditions from worsening.

Study group members, including past commissioners and health care workers, recommended focusing attention on asthma, chronic heart disease and diabetes cases. Those with chronic illnesses would continue to get treatment for free, but those who stray from disease management programs could be forced to make a copayment like people covered by traditional health insurance.

Currently, the program uses proceeds from a half-cent sales tax that raises nearly $100-million annually to treat patients at four networks of health care providers. The study group called for bidding out primary care service to a sole health care network in hopes of cutting down overhead and enabling more poor people to receive treatment.

The study group was formed as rising costs of the health plan and other programs the sales tax pays for began to outpace tax proceeds.

In other action:

Commissioners unanimously approved giving up to $1,500 in local tax breaks to military serving in combat operations.

The so-called grants can be used by military personnel to pay property tax bills and impact fees charged to them if they are building new homes. The grants only apply to residential property on which the servicemen and women have a homestead exemption, and are available this year and next year.

The city of Tampa is considering a similar relief effort.

The county's Department of Health & Social Services estimates that 780 to 840 combat veterans may be eligible for the grants, meaning the program could cost up to $1.3-million annually.

The board voted 6-1 to create a study group to recommend improvements to the county's public bus agency, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority. The group would be similar in nature to the one that examined the health plan.

HARTline, as the agency is known, is a government entity separate from the county, though some commissioners serve on its governing board and the county helps pay some services. County Administrator Pat Bean was asked to come up with a recommendation for appointing a staff person to work with the group.

Commissioner Tom Scott voted against the proposal.

[Last modified October 6, 2005, 01:13:15]