SAC MIN 1999-02-11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Senior Affairs Commission Page 2 Minutes of Thursday,February 11, 1999 interested in having special meetings once a year at Casa de Redwood and Woodside Terrace as part of its outreach efforts. M/S M.Walsh/L.Walsh: To have special meetings once a year at Woodside Terrace and Casa de Redwood and perhaps more than once a year at Fair Oaks Senior Center. Motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Nobles announced the TEWCI Board is meeting every other month and suggested that the April meeting could be held at the Fair Oaks Senior Center. ITEM 2 - UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES INVOLVING THE COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON HEALTH INSURANCE ISSUES Commissioner L.Walsh reported he called several legislators concerning the resolution. He spoke with representatives from the offices of President Clinton, Assemblyman Ted Lempert, Senator Byron Sher, Representatives Anna Eshoo and Tom Lantos; he was unable to get through to Governor Gray Davis. He said Mr. Lempert's office gave the issue high priority and forwarded the information to Senator Jackie Speier's office; Ms. Speier is chair of the Insurance Committee for the State Senate and is currently holding meetings on this subject. He noted he was shocked at the response he received from his phone calls with staff at Anna Eshoo's office and Tom Lantos's office; they were clearly not up to date on this issue. Commissioner Borgens also called Anna Eshoo's office in Washington, D.0 and in Palo Alto. She received a better response from the Palo Alto office than the one in Washington. She also called Senator Sher's office and received a favorable response. Commissioner Nobles sent letters to all legislators on the list; she received a follow up call from Senator Sher's office and she forwarded the call to Commissioner Leo Walsh. Commissioner Walsh reported that he spoke with Kevin Walsh, staff to Byron Sher, who noted that Senator Sher had presented a bill extending the grace period for health care to 90 days; this bill passed and was effective January 1 , 1999. Commissioner Harrison related a recent incident regarding a child who was not able to see the same orthopedist seen in emergency at Sequoia Hospital because the doctor did not accept the family insurance. Commissioner L. Walsh asked other Commissioners to indicate their distribution of the material. Commissioner Nobles indicated she had distributed the resolution letter to the Target Education and Welfare Council Board of Directors and Chairperson Moran noted she had distributed the information at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center Advisory Council. Commissioner L.Walsh reported the Sequoia Hospital Advisory Committee, of which he is a member, is planning to do a needs assessment. He indicated that he was trying to contact the Hospital to get more information on whether they had completed a needs assessment or beginning a process. He suggested setting up a time to meet with another Commissioner and members of the community to discuss health care at Sequoia Hospital. Commissioner M.Walsh suggested going to upcoming meetings of AARP, Fun After Fifty, and SCORPA to announce this item. It was also suggested