TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Jennifer Yasumoto, Director of Health and Human Services Agency
REPORT BY: Jennifer Ivancie, Staff Services Analyst I
SUBJECT: Amendment No. 1 to Revenue Agreement No. 230298B with Department of Health Care Services (Medi-Cal Health Enrollment Navigator Project)
RECOMMENDATION
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Director of Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) requests approval of and authorization for the Chair to sign Amendment No.1 to Revenue Agreement No. 230298B with Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) for the term February 8, 2023 through June 30. 2026 for a new contract maximum of $632,250 for the Medi-Cal Health Enrollment Navigators Project (Navigators Project).
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approval of today’s action will increase the contract by $12,250 for a new maximum of $632,250 to continue funding for the Navigators Project services and activities. Additional funds will be used to continue offering completion of Medi-Cal applications and renewals at onsite and outreach locations.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Health and Human Services Agency, Self- Sufficiency Services Division |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
While there is no mandate to enter into this agreement, doing so helps fund reaching and ensuring the most vulnerable populations in the community can apply for Medi-Cal. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
This agreement terms June 30, 2025. Appropriations have been included in the approved Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget and future fiscal years will be budgeted accordingly. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If this agreement is not approved, HHSA will be unable to accept this funding to continue to providing services to vulnerable populations. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Healthy, Safe, and Welcoming Place to Live, Work, and Visit |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Senate Bill (SB) 154 authorized DHCS to manage and fund Medi-Cal navigation efforts associated with Assembly Bill (AB) 74 - Health Navigator Project (HNP). Funds from AB 74 ended September 30, 2022, with additional funds approved for State Fiscal Years (SFY) 2022-2026 through SB 154.
HHSA’s Self- Sufficiency Services Division (SSSD) originally received an allocation of $620,000 from DHCS and has been awarded an additional $12,250 in funds resulting in a new contract maximum of $632,250.
SSSD will continue to utilize this augmented allocation to fund outreach, enrollment, retention activities, and focused activities with the aim to reach both uninsured county residents who may be eligible to Medi-Cal and current Medi-Cal beneficiaries, with a focus on hard-to-reach targeted populations.
The additional funding also provides for efforts towards the Public Health Emergency (PHE) unwinding efforts. This means that there has been a greatly increased workload in outreach and eligibility determinations for current Medi-Cal enrollees. These Medi-Cal re-certification efforts are more important than ever to make sure that Napa County’s most vulnerable residents continue to receive Medi-Cal health benefits. These funds are also distributed through an agreement with Community Health Initiative (CHI) to provide direct Medi-Cal outreach and enrollment.