[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6587925,"mediaKeyId","5529043-3311c0368c7885b6691e9b7e282167fc","parentId",5529043,"title","VIA/BioHealth updates Avery County on Taylor Plan membership, service volumes and budget uncertainty","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1482000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529043-3311c0368c7885b6691e9b7e282167fc&start=1482&end=1482","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529043-3311c0368c7885b6691e9b7e282167fc/thumbnail_1482000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6587925/Avery-County/North-Carolina/VIABioHealth-updates-Avery-County-on-Taylor-Plan-membership-service-volumes-and-budget-uncertainty","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587925-59e693d4be679e0a2023938aa0cc77a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775283857&Signature=i09pV-SdSrnZodnDao8jEfBhg7aU6WT1~T1qHSaOrDnG86M5M5HDmdv~zpfypuaVWNd3uOjRByVJtyQEgBP0tf3L3UZqgLVj9fZDV4MqpHzEfDZAV7gYZzX1FuLoCwpYZeg7a36XtIZrw3wnWhfXrueTmbBgopkn8YWly3VQu4y1Qb92SI8jBw5dXkOdgOFuBEx6QdA4NzVCCvXGw-GbnkOrxhOg~LR6dyCfYqoe~PpkPvMcJsTnWBmSUI6nYHzhpHDoTPORhrmPqq7704Gi2Phuo0F2m7DBqH09EAZcepbNqQPsqoXGUT6KZmy7UAaOtbK-q-SDStJhEcHgbTyoCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Avery County","date","2025-08-04T21:41:32Z","article","A representative from BioHealth (the managed-care organization operating as the Taylor Plan) presented data to the Avery County Board of Commissioners outlining local membership levels, provider volumes and potential funding impacts from the North Carolina General Assembly budget negotiations.

BioHealth reported that as of mid-June Avery County had 683 members enrolled in Medicaid Direct services and 312 individuals served under the Taylor Plan, for a combined total of 995 members in the county. The presenter said Daymark is the primary comprehensive provider in the area and that Daymark receives the county’s state-directed fund to provide services to residents who seek care.

The presenter briefed commissioners on several programmatic points: the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) funding ceased on July 1 and the future of that pilot is uncertain; no new Innovations waiver slots (for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities) were proposed in the current budget, though TBI (traumatic brain injury) waiver slots were proposed for expansion; and proposed budget cuts at the state level could reduce BioHealth’s statewide service-dollar allocations (the presenter cited a hypothetical $30 million senate reduction versus a $15 million house reduction, which would have local consequences for service dollars).

The presentation included program-volume details: the largest behavioral-health service type by volume was outpatient individual therapy followed by tailored care management; the largest physical-health visits were to primary care physicians with outpatient hospital services second. The presenter said Daymark was the largest single provider seen by members in Avery County.

Commissioners asked no substantive follow-up questions in the transcript excerpt. The presenter encouraged county officials to direct any residents with recovery or post-hurricane needs to BioHealth’s coordinated resources and a “Hope for NC” grant team that has been working with affected counties.

Ending: The briefing was informational; commissioners accepted the presentation and proceeded to the next agenda items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Avery County Commissioners Meeting 8/4/25","oneSentenceSummary","A BioHealth representative briefed the Avery County commissioners on the Taylor Plan (managed care), local membership counts, provider volumes and pending state budget changes that could reduce service funding.","taxTitle","Avery County, North Carolina","taxId",74616,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6587929,"Avery County commissioners approve multiple budget amendments, appointments and ordinance changes; opioid spending tabled",956,1986000,2942000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529043-3311c0368c7885b6691e9b7e282167fc&start=1986&end=2942","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529043-3311c0368c7885b6691e9b7e282167fc/thumbnail_1986000.jpg","/articles/6587929/Avery-County/North-Carolina/Avery-County-commissioners-approve-multiple-budget-amendments-appointments-and-ordinance-changes-opioid-spending-tabled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587929-3fedc3cdf744ad947325f2ae44ef81c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775283857&Signature=QdMuNPHMJZgeRGMYoG2WGEEtUxtf5Xv~jDjMfn9efc1VCBRc50iUPWteVZjT-QfTyQRUACG6OzzNvgmDcE4ljNGeQHkwkEMTnWcA46aAnJ~xDr84zI86uCvWK9Gd3uYfYtEon~smzF1tUCic~jknwqI2OPuWfB1pmOsmJy57ptZoa0WmsE7fP87Nd1jyURjLxKI11fNpbDD~qWAtlWKv9K5RPi-MOfNYU7dqp9Mud0FqLEBvHz4GICzcsnDbZffbaytvljsTeaiO48J-njBNCA2vpWC9avtHOS~SkXS92ALGrBd3uAQammjQ6fGzmaj6xIcK18paGreKNimD0jPHWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Avery County commissioners met in August and approved a package of administrative actions including appointments, budget amendments, a change to the county tipping-fee ordinance and the acceptance of a surplus-property offer; the board also approved a resolution to accept opioid settlement funds but tabled a companion resolution directing how those funds would be spent until memoranda of understanding are signed.

The commissioners moved quickly through routine and fiscal items. Major items the board approved included budget amendments to roll forward grant funds, acceptance of minor proceeds, and authorization to pursue a sale of county surplus property. The board voted to amend the tipping-fee ordinance to set the county landfill tipping fee at $62 per ton and removed earlier municipal-credit language from the ordinance; that ordinance change requires two votes when fewer than a full board is present and the board took the required action.

Highlights of approved actions included accepting $54,000 in grants to the Department of Senior Services to purchase a 15-passenger van, accepting a $20,000 North Carolina youth sports grant for Parks and Recreation equipment, adding $20,000 proceeds from the sale of a K-9 to the sheriff’s department budget, and rolling $509,996 in vehicle purchasing authority for the transportation department into the next fiscal year. The board approved a payment of $11,452.50 from county funds to the High Country Council of Governments for addressing work after the E-911 board determined it was not an eligible 9-1-1 expense, and approved repayment of an ineligible FY 23–24 E-911 hotel expense of $221.50 back to the E-911 fund. The EMS department’s $30,000 North Carolina Community Foundation grant for hurricane recovery was rolled into the current-year budget.

The board also accepted an $8,000 offer for a county lot located off Florida Avenue and authorized the statutory upset-bid notice process for surplus property sales. The board appointed Lauren Ware to the Avery Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and approved a resolution designating two county staff as primary and secondary signatories for a hazard-mitigation grant program.

On opioid settlement funding, the board approved a resolution authorizing execution of settlement agreements with secondary opioid manufacturers and approving a third supplemental agreement between the state and local governments. However, when presented with the companion resolution that would direct expenditure of those settlement funds for fiscal year 2025–26, commissioners raised concerns that memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and provider agreements had not been received and signed. Commissioners agreed no funds should be disbursed until the county receives signed agreements; the board voted to table the expenditure resolution until a future meeting when the MOUs are available.

Other procedural actions included approval of the June 9, 2025 special-meeting minutes and a motion to go into a closed session under attorney–client privilege and contract-negotiation topics.

Votes at a glance (summary of formal actions recorded in the meeting):

- Motion to amend the agenda to move item 3.6 (closed session) on to the agenda — approved.
- Designate NCACC voting delegate for the August NCACC conference — approved (delegate not explicitly named in the roll transcript).
- Appointment of Lauren Ware to the Avery Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee — approved.
- Approval of subdivision: 1911 Cranberry Phase 4 (planning-board-approved subdivision) — approved.
- Adopt resolution to accept an $8,000 offer for a surplus lot (Florida Avenue) and begin upset-bid publication process — approved.
- Approve total monthly collections for July, $112,835.44 — approved.
- Release of $2,602.89 (historic holdover) — approved.
- Amend the county tipping-fee ordinance (1998 ordinance) to set tipping fee to $62 per ton and remove municipal-user credit language — approved (requires two votes when fewer than full board present; board completed required action).
- Revise Economic Development Advisory Committee bylaws to change meeting cadence to quarterly (January, April, July, October; last quarter month, 5 p.m.) — approved.
- Approve resolution designating primary/secondary signatories for hazard mitigation grant program (designated Philip primary and Cindy secondary) — approved.
- Budget amendments and grant acceptances (approved):
• Senior Services: accept two grants ($27,000 each) for the purchase of a 15-passenger van; roll $54,000 into current fiscal year (budget amendment) — approved.
• Parks and Recreation: accept $20,000 NC youth sports grant and amend budget — approved.
• Sheriff’s Office: add $20,000 proceeds from sale of a K-9 to capital outlay — approved.
• Transportation: roll $509,996 for vehicle purchases into FY25–26 budget (90/10 state/county reimbursement split noted) — approved.
• Central Dispatch: authorize $11,452.50 from county funds to pay High Country Council of Governments for addressing work (not 9-1-1 eligible) — approved.
• E-911: repay ineligible FY23–24 hotel expense of $221.50 to the E-911 fund — approved.
• EMS: roll $30,000 North Carolina Community Foundation grant forward for hurricane Helene recovery into current-year budget — approved.
- Opioid settlement actions: adopt resolution authorizing execution of opioid settlement agreements and approving the third supplemental agreement — approved; companion resolution directing the expenditure of opioid settlement funds for FY25–26 — TABLED until MOUs/signed agreements are received.
- Approval of minutes (06/09/2025 special meeting) — approved.
- Motion to move to closed session for attorney–client privilege and contract negotiation — approved.

What the meeting record does not specify: specific vote tallies for each motion (transcript records “All in favor, say aye” but individual roll-call tallies are not provided in the record), the name of the NCACC voting delegate was not explicitly recorded in the transcript excerpt, and the solicitor/provider MOUs referenced for opioid funding distribution were described as pending and unsigned at the time the board tabled the expenditure resolution.

Ending: The board set its next regular meeting for September 2 (noted to fall near Labor Day) and recessed after the closed-session motion. Further action on opioid-settlement expenditures will await receipt of signed agreements and MOUs.","At an August meeting, the Avery County Board of Commissioners approved appointments, several budget amendments and an amendment to the county tipping fee ordinance, accepted a surplus-property offer, and tabled the proposed expenditure plan for opioid settlement funds pending signed agreements.","actionData","errors"]

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VIA/BioHealth updates Avery County on Taylor Plan membership, service volumes and budget uncertainty

Avery County commissioners approve multiple budget amendments, appointments and ordinance changes; opioid spending tabled