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Approve a contract with Solano Coalition for Better Health (SCBH) for $65,057 to conduct outreach and insurance enrollment and renewal to uninsured adults and children with Assembly Bill 82 (2013) and Senate Bill 18 (2014) funding received through the California Department of Health Care Services for the current period through June 30, 2018; and Authorize the County Administrator to execute the contract
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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 contract with Solano Coalition for Better Health (SCBH) for $65,057 to conduct outreach and insurance enrollment and renewal to uninsured adults and children with Assembly Bill (AB) 82 (2013) and Senate Bill (SB) 18 (2014) funding received through the California Department of Health Care Services for the current period through June 30, 2018; and Authorize the County Administrator to execute the contract.
SUMMARY:
The California Department of Health Care Services granted funds to Solano County, through AB 82 (2013) and SB 18 (2014) to enroll uninsured local residents into Medi-Cal and assist Medi-Cal recipients with re-enrollment and retention of health coverage. For FY2017/18, the California Department of Health Care Services allocated $65,057 to Solano County to perform these activities. All of the funds will be directed to SCBH to enroll and retain Solano County residents in Medi-Cal.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The California Department of Health Care Services has provided multi-year funding to Solano County to enroll uninsured clients in Medi-Cal and help clients retain Medi-Cal coverage through AB 82 in the amount of $41,404 and SB 18 in the amount of $23,653. The two agreements from Department of Health Care Services total $324,872 and funding runs through June 30, 2018. This year, there is $65,057 available to spend for these activities. There are no County General funds associated with this contract.
DISCUSSION:
As reported to the Board on June 3, 2014, Solano County received funds from the California Department of Health Care Services in March 2014 for Medi-Cal outreach and enrollment efforts (these funds are known as AB 82 funds). The California Department of Health Care Services received funds from The California Endowment to enroll and retain uninsured clients into Medi-Cal. This funding was part of efforts to enroll newly eligible for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The California Department of Health Care Services used the funds from the California Endowment to obtain federal matching funds.
Nearly a year later, in January 2015, the County received additional funds from the California Department of Health Care Services to help clients re-enroll into Medi-Cal and retain Medi-Cal coverage (these funds are known as SB 18 funds). Again, The California Endowment provided funding to the California Department of Health Care Services and the Department used these funds to obtain federal matching funds to re-enroll and retain California residents in Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California).
When Solano County initially received notice from the California Department of Health Care Services of the AB 82 funds and Senate Bill 18 funds, H&SS convened the Solano County Affordable Care Act (ACA) Steering Committee. The Solano County ACA Steering Committee identified SCBH as the community based organization to conduct outreach, enrollment, and retention activities for hard to reach populations since SCBH received funding from the County at that time to conduct similar activities. The new AB 82 and SB 18 funds expanded SCBH efforts.
Since the Department of Health Care Services provided the AB 82 and SB 18 funds, Solano County has made significant gains in enrolling and retaining Solano County residents in public health coverage. H&SS and the Sheriff’s Office developed an agreement and process to enroll jail inmates in Medi-Cal. Eligibility workers interview inmates via iWeb and assist them in completing an application for Medi-Cal. In FY 2015/16, the Division of Employment and Eligibility Services (E&ES) worked with uninsured clients from the Sheriff’s Office and the Center for Positive Change and enrolled 112 clients in Medi-Cal. Also, the funds from Department of Health Care Services allowed E&ES to purchase the cameras to interview clients via iWeb.
In FY2016/17, SCBH enrolled 1,191 children and adults in Medi-Cal and assisted 1,596 clients in reenrollment and retention of health coverage. With the Board’s approval of this contract, SCBH will continue to enroll uninsured Solano County residents into public health coverage, and continue to assist them in retaining and re-enrolling into Medi-Cal through the end of the fiscal year.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to approve the contract with SCBH. This is not recommended because it would prevent SCBH from enrolling uninsured local residents into Medi-Cal and assisting Medi-Cal enrollees retain and re-enroll into the program.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
H&SS worked with the County Administrator’s Office and County Counsel to develop the contract with SCBH. In the effort to enroll and retain Solano County residents in Medi-Cal, Solano Coalition for Better Health has worked with numerous agencies, including 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