HHS Board Meeting

HHS Board Meeting Recap: March 27, 2026

The Health and Human Services (HHS) Board held a virtual meeting on March 27, 2026, addressing several critical issues impacting the community. This recap summarizes the key discussions, decisions, and next steps for residents seeking to understand how HHS is working to support their well-being.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on financial matters, culminating in a unanimous vote to approve the Fiscal Year 2027 Billing Guide and fee schedule. This update includes adjustments to the sliding fee scale, reflecting increased federal poverty levels, ensuring equitable access to services. New fees will be implemented for self-pay PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) services, aligning with clinic policy, and for shared-use kitchens and public swimming pool permits/inspections. These changes are designed to incentivize timely applications and maximize reimbursement rates, ultimately supporting the financial sustainability of HHS programs. Updates were also made to vaccine and family planning method fees, reflecting current Blue Cross/Medicaid rates, and new billing codes were added for smoking cessation and PrEP administration.

Beyond financial matters, the board received updates on several important community issues. The Community Opportunity Committee presented findings regarding child care in Buncombe County, highlighting the complexity of subsidy systems and a lack of comprehensive data on community needs. Concerns were raised about provider retention due to inadequate subsidies, with a significant portion of licensed providers not participating in the subsidy program. Board member Martha emphasized the need for better data to understand these challenges, recognizing child care’s vital role in workforce development. The Community Health Committee reported that the recent measles outbreak in Monk County has concluded, reinforcing the importance of ongoing vaccination efforts. While a review of mandated and supportive services was presented by the Community Safety Committee, no major updates were provided.

Although there were no direct public comments during the meeting, discussions surrounding child care underscored community concerns about affordability and access to quality services. Director David acknowledged the dedication of communicable disease nurses during the measles outbreak, and praised the WIC clinic for securing a grant to provide fresh produce through farmer’s market prescriptions – a testament to the program's success.

Looking ahead, several action items were identified. New board members are scheduled for an in-person orientation on April 20th, and the search continues for a qualified engineer to join the board. HHS will also investigate and provide details on the funding source supporting the WIC clinic’s farmer's market prescription program. Residents can expect further updates on these matters in future board meetings, which will continue to address critical issues impacting the health and well-being of our community.