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Approve a first contract amendment with Solano Coalition for Better Health (SCBH) for $90,000 for a total contract amount of $190,000 utilizing supplemental Department of Health Care Services funding to provide additional outreach and application enrollment assistance for Solano County residents to retain and re-enroll into California’s Medi-Cal health coverage program for the current period through June 30, 2017; and Authorize the County Administrator to execute the amendment
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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 (H&SS) recommends that the Board approve a first contract amendment with Solano Coalition for Better Health (SCBH) for $90,000 for a total contract amount of $190,000 utilizing supplemental Department of Health Care Services funding to provide additional outreach and application enrollment assistance for Solano County residents to retain and re-enroll into California’s Medi-Cal health coverage program for the current period through June 30, 2017; and Authorize the County Administrator to execute the amendment.
SUMMARY:
On March 2014 Solano County received funds from the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to enroll uninsured Solano County residents into Medi-Cal who were newly eligible for Medi-Cal (these funds are known as Assembly Bill 82 funds). In January 2015 additional funds were received from DHCS to assist clients in re-enrolling into Medi-Cal and retaining Medi-Cal coverage (these funds are known as Senate Bill 18 funds). On June 28, 2016, H&SS contracted with the Solano Coalition for Better Health (SCBH) to provide outreach and expand efforts to enroll uninsured clients into Medi-Cal and help beneficiaries maintain coverage. On January 27, 2017, Solano County received additional funding from DHCS of $64,716. As a result, the agreements with DHCS now total $324,872 (AB 82 is $206,376 and SB 18 is $118,496 respectively) with funding extended through June 30, 2018.
H&SS is requesting that the Board approve a first contract amendment with SCBH for $90,000 (which includes the increase in DHCS funding received as well as unexpended funds from the prior years) for a total contract amount of $190,000 for the current period through June 30, 2017 to provide additional outreach and application enrollment assistance to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
DHCS is providing the funding to Solano County for the first contract amendment with SCBH. There are no County General funds associated with this contract.
DISCUSSION:
The Department of Health Care Services received funds from The California Endowment to enroll and retain uninsured clients into California’s Medi-Cal health coverage program. This funding was part of efforts to enroll newly eligible clients for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). DHCS used the funds from the California Endowment to draw down federal matching funds.
In March 2014, Solano County received funding from DHCS to expand Medi-Cal outreach and enrollment efforts (AB82). In January 2015, Solano County received additional funds from DHCS to continue providing Medi-Cal application enrollment assistance (SB18). Per terms of the DHCS agreement, almost all of the Senate Bill 18 funds (90%) were to be contracted out to a community based organization. The Solano County ACA Steering Committee selected Solano Coalition for Better Health (SCBH) as the community based organization to conduct outreach, enrollment, and retention activities for hard to reach populations.
H&SS is proposing to amend the contract with SCBH from $100,000 to $190,000 in FY2016/17. SCBH has been successful at enrolling County residents into health coverage. With the funds received from DHCS in FY2015/16, SCBH enrolled forty-one uninsured clients into Medi-Cal; these clients were newly eligible to Medi-Cal through the passage of the Affordable Care Act. SCBH also assisted 1,314 clients in re-enrolling and retaining Medi-Cal coverage. With this proposed contract amendment, SCBH will continue to enroll newly eligible Solano County residents into public health coverage and continue to assist existing enrollees in maintaining coverage.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to approve the contract amendment with SCBH. This is not recommended because it would prevent SCBH from providing additional assistance to uninsured Solano County residents.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
H&SS worked with the County Administrator’s Office and County Counsel to develop the contract with Solano Coalition for Better Health and secure the new agreements with Department of Health Care Services. In the effort to enroll and retain Solano County residents into Medi-Cal, Solano Coalition for Better Health has worked with numerous community based organizations, the Employment & Eligibility Division of Solano County Health & Social Services, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Public Defender’s Office.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION