Meeting Minutes Details
Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative
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COMMONWEALTH NEUROTRAUMA INITIATIVE (CNI)
ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES – FEBRUARY 8, 1999
The CNI Advisory Board met on Monday February 8, 1999 in the Conference Room of the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), Koger Center - Ratcliffe Building located at 1602 Rolling Hills Drive, Richmond, Virginia. Members in attendance were Dr. John Ward, Phillip Brown, Dr. Clydette Powell,
R. David Ross, Patricia Tiernan, and Jay McLaughlin. Faith Smith was absent. Also in attendance were Patti Goodall, Director of DRS Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Services, Kathy Hayfield, DRS Assistant Commissioner for Community Based Services, Doug Harris, VDH Administrative Law and Regulatory Compliance Advisor, and Christine Grauer, Board Staff.
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m. by Dr. John Ward, Chair. Board members and others in attendance introduced themselves.
Public Comment Period
No public comments were offered.
Overview of CNI & Duties of Advisory Board
Dr. Ward provided an overview of the CNI including its history, purpose, and goals.
Review of NOIRA & Update on Fund Revenue
Doug Harris reported that the total amount in the Fund as of December 31, 1998 was $156,618.38. Fees are collected on a quarterly basis beginning July 1, 1998.
Mr. Harris also reviewed the process for adopting state Board of Health regulations. The Pre-NOIRA was published in June, 1998 followed by the NOIRA which was published in July, 1998. A draft of proposed regulations is then to be submitted to the State Board of Health by the CNI Advisory Board. The State Board of Health must submit a regulatory package containing the proposed regulations to the Governor and Secretary within 180 days of the close of the NOIRA comment period or by February 17, 1999. It is apparent that this deadline will not be met. A motion was made and seconded to send a letter to the Governor requesting an extension on the deadline due to the Board vacancies which have existed as well as the turnover in Board Staff. Mr. Harris agreed to prepare a letter to be sent to the Governor. If an extension is not approved, another NOIRA will be published in order to gain an additional 180 days to complete a draft of the proposed regulations.
Draft Policies & Procedures for Soliciting and Reviewing Applications
Patti Goodall presented a draft outline of “Policies and Procedures for Grant Applications” to be included in the proposed regulations which will be provided to the State Board of Health. The following is a summary of key points and recommendations offered by Board members regarding the content of the draft policies and procedures:
Timelines:
Commissioner Ross suggested that one funding cycle be used for both research and community-based services in order to give prompt consideration to proposals which would fund services to consumers. Concern was raised regarding the possibility that a relatively large number of proposals could be received, thus making the review and award process potentially cumbersome and time-intensive. It was recommended that language be included in the policies and procedures allowing the Board to reserve the right to consider proposals as a group or to divide them into separate funding cycles.
Mechanisms to Ensure Avoidance of Conflict of Interests:
It was recommended that grant reviewers be chosen from outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia when deemed appropriate and that they be compensated a sum of $150 for their services. These external reviewers would then make recommendations to the Advisory Board, which would make final award decisions.
Distribution of Funds:
Following a discussion on the amount and length of grant awards, it was determined that grants in the range of $5,000 to $150,000 would be awarded for a period of 1 to 3 years. DVH was asked to obtain an actuarial projection on the amount of growth expected from the Fund.
It was recommended that grantees receiving 1 year awards be asked to present results to the Board semi-annually. Those grantees receiving 2 to 3 year awards will be asked to report results to the Board on an annual basis. A suggestion was made to include language in the policies and procedures which allows the Board to require reporting “as often as required at the discretion of the Board.” In addition, it was recommended that grantees be asked to return unused portions of the award if funds are not being used properly.
State procurement guidelines will be used to develop policies and procedures for grant applications.It was agreed that a “Letter of Intent” format would be used as the first step in the grant application process. A suggestion was made to schedule application deadlines at the halfway point between quarterly Board meetings so that Board members may review applications prior to the next Board meeting.
Areas of Need:
Following a discussion on the areas to be targeted for grant awards, it was determined that the following types of research projects would receive priority consideration: 1) Understanding the Mechanisms of the Disabling Condition; 2) Improvement of Treatment; 3) Assessment of Outcomes; and 4) Certain Population Studies. When awarding grants for rehabilitative services, emphasis will be placed on demonstration projects which have an outcomes focus and are sustainable. All grants are to be short-term, nonrenewable to encourage grantees to use additional resources for ongoing project operation.
The meeting was adjourned at 12 p.m.
The next meeting of the CNI Advisory Board will take place on Monday March 22 at 10 a.m. at the Department of Rehabilitative Services, Lee Building, 8004 Franklin Farms Drive, Conference Room 103, Richmond, Virginia.
Submitted by:
grauerch@drs.state.va.us
