TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Amanda Gibbs, Chief Probation Officer
REPORT BY: Ferlyn Buenafe, Probation Administrative Manager
SUBJECT: Agreement with Serrano Advisors, LLC
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Agreement No. 250384B with Serrano Advisors, LLC from October 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, to provide consulting services related to implementing the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal program. (Fiscal Impact: $500,000 Expense; General Fund; Budgeted; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) is a series of state mandated initiatives and reforms under the State of California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to California’s Medi-Cal program. It is a multi-year initiative to improve the health outcomes and quality of life for Medi-Cal members.
One of the initiatives of CalAIM is the Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative (Initiative). On January 26, 2023, California became the first state in the nation approved to offer a targeted set of Medicaid services to youth and eligible adults in state prisons, county jails, and youth correctional facilities for up to 90 days prior to release. The Initiative addresses poor health outcomes in these populations by establishing pre-release Medi-Cal enrollment strategies to ensure individuals have continuity of coverage upon their release, as well as access to key services to help them successfully return to their communities.
With CalAIM, Probation is now tasked with implementing strategies to facilitate successful transitions into the community for justice-involved individuals.
The CalAIM program planning phase will necessitate Consultant services leading into the implementation phase with critical milestones to include: a solution for Medi-Cal billings and electronic health records; preparation for delivery of regulatory filings for the reentry initiative to the DHCS; assessing operational readiness for pre-release services; and coordinating a multi-agency data sharing agreement to facilitate the pre-release and post-release coordination of clients.
Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) is a five-year, $1.85 billion initiative to build up the capacity and infrastructure of partners with the State to successfully participate in the Medi-Cal delivery system. California will implement Enhanced Care Management, Community Supports and Justice Involved services under CalAIM. Probation has applied for PATH Round 3 grant funding and a tentative award has been made for $1,500,000 funding.
In a separate Board item, Probation is requesting approval to accept the grant award. If the Board approves this request, the PATH grant award can be used for personnel, capacity, and/or IT systems needed for collaborative planning and implementation for the provision of targeted pre-release Medi-Cal services for individuals in state prisons, county jails, and youth correctional facilities.
The entire contract amount with Serrano Advisors is eligible for PATH funding as a revenue offset.
Serrano Advisors, LLC has 28 years of experience in Medicare and Medicaid finance and administration. The President of this agency was the CEO for the Alameda Alliance for Health, a public managed care health plan serving 400,000 adults, youth and children in the East Bay of California.
Serrano Advisors, LLC provides consulting services to assist counties with budget implementation; coordinate interagency collaborations to reach a successful launch of pre-release and post-release services; and oversees the pre-go-live quality assurance and readiness efforts. They have specialty skills and qualifications in Medicare and Medicaid policy and reimbursements including coordinated entry services for justice-involved populations, behavioral health realignment, and street medicine services. Street medicine is the practice of providing medical care to people experiencing homelessness by bringing care directly to them in their own environment such as parks and encampments. The expected Consultant costs this fiscal year is anticipated to be $75,000.
Requested Action:
Approve Agreement No. 250384B with Serrano Advisors, LLC from October 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 with two (2) auto annual renewals, not to exceed a contract maximum of $500,000.
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 |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Probation does not have the resources or expertise to implement the state mandated requirements for CalAIM. Consultant assistance is needed to comply with State legislation. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Appropriation has been requested in the FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget and will be budgeted accordingly in the succeeding fiscal year with offsetting Revenue if the Board approves acceptance of a DHCS grant presented at its April 22, 2025 meeting. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If the agreement is not approved, the Department is not able to meet the requirements of CalAIM. |
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.