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Sawyer County HHS committee advances routine business; flags MAP premiums, ADRC modernization and public-health exercises
Summary
The Health and Human Services committee approved minutes and an all-staff closure, moved budget review to next month, noted MAP premium resumption affecting call-center volume, and heard updates on ADRC system modernization, Transition House revenue and a public-health sheltering exercise.
The Sawyer County Health and Human Services committee handled several administrative items and received service updates across units including administration, long-term care, behavioral health, economic support and public health.
Procedurally, members approved the minutes from the previous meeting and carried a motion to close at 11 a.m. on either Nov. 12 or Nov. 20 for an all-staff training (the transcript records a preference for Nov. 20). The chair also noted a change to the agenda: the budget review under Administration will be moved to next month.
Administration staff described steps to improve Medicaid billing (electronic billing progress) and ongoing work with Northland Counseling to resolve billing backlogs. The ADRC and tribal programs were highlighted, with staff pointing to maps showing high ADRC usage in the northern area (Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, Price and Sawyer) and noting that the ADRC’s data and phone systems are outdated; state funding is being set aside for modernization efforts. The Senior Resource Center reported fundraising activity and a budget request of $150,000 to the county, unchanged from 2024.
Economic-support staff warned that Medicaid Purchase Plan (MAP) premiums resumed Aug. 1 and that the state’s communication timing increased call-center volume and concern among beneficiaries; payments are due by Aug. 10 and will be processed by postmark. FoodShare interviews will resume Sept. 1, which staff said will further increase call volumes. A vacant position in economic support was filled and the new hire will start Sept. 9.
Public Health reported a DHS determination of "needs intervention" for the Birth-to-Three program and described recent community events, a new lactation room ribbon-cutting and a full-scale sheltering exercise scheduled for Sept. 11 at Hayward Wesleyan Church. Transition House revenue showed improvement, and staff noted purchase-service spending shifts and juvenile-justice placement costs when previewing budget performance.
The committee added a public hearing for the budget and said a "meet the director" session will be held and posted. The meeting adjourned after confirming future agenda items, including continued consideration of tourist rooming-house language.
