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Consider options for the appointment of two commissioners, one for the category of community health clinic representative and one for the category of hospital representative, to the Partnership HealthPlan of California Commission
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The County Administrator’s Office recommends that the Board of Supervisors consider options for the appointment of two commissioners, one for the category of community health clinic representative and one for the category of hospital representative, to the Partnership HealthPlan of California Commission.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
In accordance with Welfare and Institutions Code section 14087.54, the Solano County Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted an ordinance in 1992 that created Chapter 7.2 of the Solano County Code and established the Partnership HealthPlan of California (PHC) Commission on Medical Care (Ordinance No. 1456). The purpose of the commission is to negotiate exclusive contracts with the California Department of Health Care Services and to arrange for the provision of health care services to the qualified uninsured.
Throughout the years, the ordinance has been amended with the most recent amendment occurring on October 24, 2023, whereby the Board adopted a resolution amending Chapter 7.2 of the Solano County Code, relating to the PHC Commission’s membership and composition of membership representatives to include ten additional county memberships and modify the representation on the PHC Commission. As of January 1, 2024, the PHC Commission includes 24 member counties and the number of commissioners for each county based on an allocation formula that provides for the expansion or contraction of the membership of the Commission based upon the number of member counties and the number of plan enrollments in each county. The multi-county representation is referenced in Chapter 7.2 as Exhibit A (Attachment A). Solano County is allocated 3 commissioners. The Board appointed Emery Cowan, Health and Social Services Director to the commission on December 10, 2024 to fill the remainder of the prior Director’s term which expires on December 31, 2026.
Solano County Code, Chapter 7.2, Exhibit A, also outlines the number of commissioners and categories for Solano County commissioners, with no more than one representative from any category, from which commissioners may be appointed by the Board of Supervisors to staggered, four-year terms. The categories are:
• County Director of Health and Social Services Department
• Representative from a community health clinic
• Physician
• Representative from the Solano County hospitals (Sutter Solano and NorthBay Medical Center) on a rotating basis
The Clerk of the Board’s office received two (2) applications for the category of community health clinic representative and one (1) application for the category of hospital representative. Staff is seeking direction from the Board as to how to proceed which could include the option of the Chair appointing an ad hoc subcommittee to interview the interested individuals and return to the full Board with a recommendation on the appointment for each category.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2022/23 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose to appoint the only applicant to the category of hospital representative without conducting interviews. This is not recommended because the Board would not have the opportunity to meet the applicant.
If the Board chooses not to form a subcommittee to conduct interviews, they may instead choose to publicly conduct interviews with the applicants as part of a regularly scheduled Board meeting with a quorum of Board members present.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION