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Approve the appointment of Emery Cowan, Director of Health and Social Services, to the Partnership HealthPlan of California Commission for the remainder of the term of Gerald Huber, former Director of Health and Social Services, which expires on December 31, 2026
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the appointment of Emery Cowan, Director of Health and Social Services, to the Partnership HealthPlan of California Commission for the remainder of the term of Gerald Huber, former Director of Health and Social Services, which expires on December 31, 2026.
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 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 (Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Solano, and NorthBay Medical Center) on a rotating basis
Each commission member remains in office until a successor is selected. Mr. Gerald Huber, former Director of Health and Social Services, retired from Solano County on November 16, 2024. The County Administrator’s Office is recommending the appointment of Emery Cowan, the newly appointed Director of Health and Social Services, to fill the remainder of Mr. Huber’s term that is set to expire on December 31, 2026.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget. There is no financial impact to the General Fund with this appointment.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could reject this appointment. This is not recommended because the County’s Health and Social Services Director is well positioned to represent the community and County’s interests on the Commission.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Health and Social Services Department reviewed and concurs with the appointment.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION