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Receive an update from staff on items discussed at the Board’s Legislative Committee on April 5, 2021; Consider taking a position on SB 281 and AB 32
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Published Notice Required? Yes _______ No ___X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _______ No ___X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors receive an update from staff on items discussed at the Board’s Legislative Committee on April 5, 2021; consider taking a position on SB 281 and AB 32.
SUMMARY:
Staff will provide an overview of items discussed at the Board’s Legislative Committee on April 5, 2021. The informational items before the Board were reviewed by the County’s Legislative Committee and are discussed individually in the discussion section below. It is important to note that the April 5, 2021 Legislative Committee meeting took place on the Microsoft Teams virtual video platform.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The legislative program is designed to result in additional funding and cost avoidance relative to Solano County. The cost of preparing this report and compiling the information is a General Fund cost covered in the County Administrator’s FY2020/21 administration budget.
DISCUSSION:
The County’s Legislative Committee Members, Supervisor Erin Hannigan and Supervisor John Vasquez met on the virtual platform, Microsoft Teams on April 5, 2021 to discuss both Federal and State issues. Joe Krahn, Hasan Sarsour, and Tom Joseph of Paragon Government Relations, the County’s federal legislative advocacy team, and Karen Lange of SYASL Partners, Inc., the County’s state legislative advocate, all participated in the meeting as well.
The County’s April 5, 2021 Legislative Committee agenda packet can be accessed at the following link: <https://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=34424>
As part of public comment, Nestor Aliga, a community member representing the Vallejo Veterans affairs, thanked the Legislative Committee and the Solano County Board of Supervisors for writing letters of support to transfer the Mare Island Naval Cemetery from the City of Vallejo to the US Department of Veteran Affairs. Additionally, Mr. Aliga informed the Legislative Committee that he is working on state legislation to designate the I-780/I-80 interchange as the “Congressional Gold Medal Memorial Interchange” and re-designate the I-80 rest area as the “Medal of Honor Safety Roadside Rest Area” to honor the 14 that were born, lived or buried in Vallejo. A copy of the email sent to Legislative Committee on behalf of staff members Nancy Huston, Michelle Heppner and Matthew Davis is included in ATTACHMENT A.
The meeting agenda included two state-action item which are all discussed below:
SB 281 - Medi-Cal: California Community Transition program
The Medi-Cal: California Community Transition program bill (SB 281) was introduced in the California Senate by Senator Bill Dodd (D) on February 1, 2021. This bill, among other things, would require the State Department of Health Care Services, to provide qualified low-income individuals living in skilled nursing facilities for at least 60 days help make the transition to a community based facility. Current California law states eligible individuals must reside in a skilled nursing facility for at least 90 days. This bill would also extend the provision of these services to January 1, 2029 and would extend the repeal date of those provisions to January 1, 2030. The bill, SB 281 <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB281> is ATTACHMENT B.
SUPPORT - Following a discussion, the Legislative Committee, by request of Debbie Vaughn, Assistant Director of Health and Social Services, agreed to support the bill, as it would help eligible residents in Solano County make a successful transition from a skilled nursing facility back into the community, including helping the patient establish essential services, including, but not limited to housing and in-home support services.
AB 32 - Telehealth
The Telehealth bill (SB 32) was introduced in the California Assembly by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry on December 7, 2020 and has been referred to the Committee on Health on February 16, 2021. This bill would require health care services furnished by an enrolled clinic through telehealth to be reimbursed by Medi-Cal on the same basis, to the same extent, and at the same payment rate as those services are reimbursed if furnished in person. The bill would also prohibit the State Department of Health Care Services from restricting the ability of an enrolled clinic to provide and be reimbursed for services furnished through telehealth. Additionally, the bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services department to indefinitely continue the telehealth flexibilities in place during the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency. The bill, AB 32 <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB32> is ATTACHMENT C
SUPPORT - Following a discussion, the Legislative Committee, by request of Debbie Vaughn, Assistant Director of Health and Social Services, agreed to support the bill, giving clients the ability to maintain regular check-ins with their healthcare provider between in-person appointments, which is especially beneficial for patients with chronic illnesses.
This staff report also includes a federal legislative update summary from Paragon Government Relations, dated April 5, 2021 (ATTACHMENT D) and a state legislative update on bills Solano County has been following during the 2020-2021 legislative session from Karen Lange of SYASL Partners, Inc., (ATTACHMENT E).
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Staff consulted with Solano County Department Heads, Paragon Government Relations, SYASL Partners, Inc. to compile this legislative report.