DATE: 4/25/17
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Additional Revenue Allocation Agreement with DHCS for Medi-Cal Outreach and Enrollment Activities
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an additional revenue allocation Agreement with the California Department of Health Care Services for Medi-Cal Outreach and Enrollment activities, effective March 12, 2014 through June 30, 2018 ($1,009,560).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department to accept an additional allocation of $116,129 from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to provide Medi-Cal Outreach and Enrollment services. These services assist individuals, such as the homeless or those with mental health disorders, whom historically have had limited or no access to health insurance, to obtain Medi-Cal. The recommended Agreement is a DHCS requirement to receive funding and will increase total allocation amount to $1,009,560, with no Net County Cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board choose not to approve the recommended action, the Department will not receive the additional allocation from DHCS. This may result in individuals left uninsured who are eligible for health insurance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The Agreement will provide additional revenue ($116,129) to perform Medi-Cal Outreach and Enrollment Services. The additional allocation will increase the DHCS Medi-Cal Outreach and Enrollment Allocation to $1,009,560 for the period of March 12, 2014 through June 30, 2018. Sufficient appropriations and revenues are included in the Department’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded eligibility for Medi-Cal. In 2014, the DHCS made funds available to counties to identify and assist individuals who were newly eligible under the expanded provisions. Targeted populations include individuals who historically have had limited access to Medi-Cal such as those coping with mental health disorders, substances use disorders, homelessness, incarceration, parole or probation, noncitizens, limited-English proficiency, and young men of color.
On May 20, 2014, your Board approved an agreement with DHCS to accept funds in the amount of $741,971 to provide outreach and enrollment activities for this population. On June 21, 2016, your Board approved a subsequent agreement with DHCS to increase funds by $151,460 and extend services to June 30, 2018. DHCS anticipated that this increase would not cover services through June 30, 2018 and would provide more funds at a later date.
On January 30, 2017, DHCS informed the Department of the availability of additional funds in the amount of $116,129. The recommended action is required to allow the Department to accept these funds and to continue service provision.
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department to continue to subcontract to community based-organizations (CBOs) for the coordination of community events and other enrollment activities in an effort to disseminate information, improve access, and to assist individuals with the process and application to enroll into Medi-Cal. The Department currently contracts with eleven CBOs specifically for this purpose. As of December 2016, these eleven CBOs’ enabled 14,168 household to receive Medi-Cal benefits.
The recommended Agreement is based on DHCS’s contract model, which differs from the County’s contract boilerplate. The Agreement includes mutual indemnification language and allows for termination for any reason by either the County or DHCS upon written notice.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 67, June 21, 2016
BAI # 59, May 20, 2014
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with DHCS
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander