Manatee County Healthcare Advisory Board applications due Nov. 30

MANATEE -- Manatee County residents interested in serving on the newly created Healthcare Advisory Board can submit applications to the county by Nov. 30.

At Tuesday's meeting, the Manatee County Commission established the advisory board, which is intended to advise the commission on health care issues.

Advisory board members would be selected by the commission through the regular advisory board application process. A maximum of 11 members would represent "health care, mental health care, substance abuse care, social services, higher education, medically needy consumer(s) of health care and representatives of the business community," according to agenda materials.

Applications, which can be found at mymanatee.org, are due by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30. Additional materials, including a form with supplemental questions and a resume or C.V., are also required.

According to a news release sent Thursday, employees, owners or voting board members of agencies that receive funding from the county or individuals that contract with agencies that receive funding are not eligible to serve on the board. The release also states "efforts will be made, to the extent possible, to have a board that is reflective of the diversity of the community."

The advisory board will convene in early January and meet at least eight times per year.

With the lump sum set aside from the sale of Manatee Memorial Hospital years ago for treating Manatee's needy now nearly depleted, the county has been working toward finding a plan to serve the indigent.

"This advisory board will evaluate, monitor and discuss the health care system in Manatee County, including physical health, behavioral health and substance abuse, emerging state and federal legislation and policies and make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners regarding the funding of health care services in Manatee County," according to the release.

For more information about the advisory board, call Andy Guyre at 941-749-3030 or email andy.guyre@mymanatee.org.

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter@Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 6:14 PM with the headline "Manatee County Healthcare Advisory Board applications due Nov. 30 ."