# HHS Board

**Body:** Buncombe County Government — HHS Board
**Date:** August 28, 2026 12:31 PM EDT (2026-08-28T12:31:18-04:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3072

## Summary

**Buncombe County HHS Board Meeting Recap**
**Date:** August 28, 2026

The Buncombe County Health and Human Services (HHS) Board convened for a virtual public meeting on August 28, 2026, to review program updates, address communicable disease trends, and advance board recruitment. The meeting opened with the amendment of the agenda to reflect that Dr. Jenny Mullendore, Susan Creed, and Nicole Santamaria would present the communicable disease report. The board subsequently reviewed and unanimously approved the minutes from the July 2026 meeting. These procedural actions set the stage for detailed discussions on healthcare program transitions, public health data, and administrative training.

Key discussions centered on significant shifts in community health services and disease trends. Regarding the Care Coordination Program, a speaker reported that due to changes in Medicare and the expansion of Prepaid Health Plans, Buncombe County will cease providing case management for high-risk pregnancies and at-risk children by the end of the year, transferring these services to PHPs while working to ensure uninsured individuals retain access. In the realm of communicable diseases, Dr. Mullendore and Nicole Santamaria presented data showing a small measles outbreak that ended in March 2026, alongside significant increases in chickenpox and pertussis. Dr. Mullendore also highlighted a severe national shortage of Bisillin, the preferred treatment for syphilis, which complicates treatment adherence, and noted that two additional infants were diagnosed with congenital syphilis in 2025. Additionally, a veterinarian raised concerns about the inappropriate administration of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in emergency rooms, citing cases where patients incurred bills up to $75,000 for unnecessary treatments.

The board also addressed administrative and social service updates, including the full state funding for the START program for Fiscal Year ’27 and positive state reviews for adult services. A speaker noted changes to the General Assistance program, which now includes renters and those previously disqualified due to property tax exemptions, with the household resource level lowered from $60,000 to $5,000 to expand eligibility. The department is currently transitioning case management to a new state-designed computer system, PathNC, and managing staff transfers to address increasing workloads in adult services. Furthermore, the board received an overview of its legal authorities and responsibilities during annual training provided by Ellis Matheson.

Public input was a notable component of the meeting, particularly regarding the rabies treatment issue. A veterinarian provided detailed commentary on the financial burden of unnecessary rabies post-exposure prophylaxis and the need for better coordination between hospitals, public health, and animal control. Additionally, a speaker requested that resumes for board applicants be emailed to members before future meetings. In response, a board member agreed to send the resumes for the three current candidates immediately and to include the next candidate’s resume with the upcoming meeting packet. The Chair also requested that board members send emails with community news to be highlighted in future Chair reports.

The primary decision made by the board was to refer three interviewed candidates for board appointment—Dr. Carmen Robinson, Dr. Jennifer Farmer, and Katrin Doyle—to the Board of Commissioners for recommendation. This motion was made and seconded, passing with all ayes. Follow-up actions explicitly agreed to at this meeting include the distribution of candidate resumes to board members immediately after the meeting, with the fourth candidate’s resume to be included in the next packet. Staff will also work with HR and other county programs to provide options for staff impacted by the transition to Prepaid Health Plans, with details to be provided in the coming months. These actions underscore the board’s focus on maintaining service continuity and ensuring transparent recruitment processes for residents.

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K92_V30vs64
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/2091/segments

## Sources

- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K92_V30vs64)