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Ratify the County Administrator and Public Health Officers’ approval and execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the California Government Operations Agency for coordination of the State and County’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts through the completion of COVID-19 vaccination services or until either participant withdraws
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services recommends that the Board ratify the County Administrator and Public Health Officers’ approval and execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the California Government Operations Agency for coordination of the State and County’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts through the completion of COVID-19 vaccination services or until either participant withdraws.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The State of California contracted with Blue Shield of California to act as a Third Party Administrator (TPA) for services to facilitate distribution of COVID-19 vaccine through establishment of a vaccine provider network. Initially, counties were asked to sign an agreement with Blue Shield in order to participate as network vaccine providers. Since there already exists a statutory role of counties, through their public health departments to address communicable diseases, counties were reluctant to sign the requested agreement. Subsequently, the State agreed that in lieu of signing a provider agreement with Blue Shield, counties must sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the State specific to the vaccine distribution and reporting. The MOU requires counties to utilize the State’s MyTurn platform to manage vaccine data, requires adherence to the State’s vaccine eligibility criteria, and requires vaccine reporting within 24 hours of administering a dose of vaccine.
On March 16 and March 22, 2021, the State issued two clarifying memos (Attachments B and C) further modifying provisions of the MOU. The first memo clarified that the TPA will collaborate and coordinate with counties and jointly propose to the State, vaccine distributions for all providers participating in the network and that counties may, subject to approval of the State, distribute portions of vaccines allocated to them to counties’ supported vaccination sites. The second memo clarified that the State will instruct Blue Shield to include private, approved vaccine providers in the statewide network and also clarified that county operated clinics shall be able to maintain closed pod vaccination structures to allow them to focus on their eligible populations with these clinics having the option of delaying transition to the State’s MyTurn platform until such time as the State and County agree that the MyTurn platform will not hamper clinic’s vaccine distribution efforts. With the issuance of the clarifying memos, the State requested that counties execute the MOU immediately. The County Administrator and the Public Health Officer signed the MOU on April 2, 2021.
The Department has been coordinating with both the State and Blue Shield multiple times per week in order to effectuate a smooth transition to the TPA network. Additionally, equipment and supplies have been ordered to transition to the MyTurn platform which requires a significant reworking of the existing Solano County vaccination appointment scheduling, registration, site set up and staffing, and data entry.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2020/21 Preliminary Budget. There is no cost the County General Fund.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to ratify approval and execution ofthe MOU; however, this is not recommended as the State has indicated execution of the MOU is a requirement for the continued receipt of vaccine to the Department.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed the MOU and clarifying memos and approved as to form.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION