TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Amanda Gibbs, Chief Probation Officer
REPORT BY: Ferlyn Buenafe, Probation Administrative Manager
SUBJECT: Accept PATH Justice-Involved Round 3 Grant from the Department of Health Care Services
RECOMMENDATION
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Accept grant funding from the California Department of Health Care Services to plan and provide targeted pre-release Medi-Cal services to individuals in correctional facilities who meet criteria as outlined in the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal section 1115 Demonstration approval. (Fiscal Impact: $1,500,000 Revenue; General Fund; Budgeted; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) received federal approval under its CalAIM 1115 Demonstration for Providing Access and Transferring Health (PATH) capacity building funds to support this justice-involved re-entry initiative. The CalAIM initiative aims to improve health outcomes of this community by connecting incarcerated persons with medical, behavioral, and social services that begin 90 days before release and continue into the incarcerated person’s re-entry to the community. Correctional facilities are mandated to go live with pre-release services no later than March 31, 2026.
The funding allocation was based on the type of correctional facility and the average daily population of youth detained in our Juvenile Hall. Permissible uses of funding include supporting investments in personnel, capacity, and/or IT systems that are needed for collaborative planning and implementation in order to effectuate pre-release service processes. Probation contracts with Wellpath to provide health care services for Juvenile Hall youth and we anticipate their assistance in implementing the CalAIM initiative.
Wellpath activities related to CalAIM activities is expected to be recovered by billing expenses to Medi-Cal.
Requested Action:
Accept the $1,500,000 DHCS PATH 3 grant funding for the pre-release Medi-Cal services for youth in Probation’s Juvenile Hall.
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? |
General Fund, Probation Department |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Pre-release Medi-Cal services for incarcerated persons are mandated. Applying for and accepting a grant to support these services is discretionary. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Ongoing expenses beyond the term of the grant may be eligible for Medi-Cal reimbursement. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If the Grant is not accepted, the General Fund will pay for 100% of the costs associated with implementing pre-release services offset partially by reimbursement from Medi-Cal. |
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Additional Information |
It is Probation’s intention to contract with Wellpath, the IP healthcare provider, to implement the CalAIM activities. The contract amendment with Wellpath will be brought before the Board for requested approval. |
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.