These positions are needed to provide support to the employees in the Patient Financial Services Unit in the Mental Health Division. Currently, temporary employees are performing in this capacity but have reached their maximum allowable hours and must be let go. The clerk position is the only clerical support for a unit of 10 employees. Duties of the position include: screening clients prior to opening at the Childrens' Clinics to ensure they do not have private insurance and checking for linkages to Medi-Cal; working the out-of-county Medi-Cal report; screening the clients that were seen at CSU the day before for insurance and Medi-Cal; maintaining the data base for eligibility verifications; processing the medication billing for the clients at the Crestwood facilities; answering the outside line, and providing back up for the Access line. The Patient Financial Services Specialist position is needed to help consumers in attaining and retaining benefits that cover the cost of Mental Health Services. Duties of the position include: Interviewing patients to identify sources of payment on accounts including possible eligibility for various programs; assisting patients in the completion of applications for various health coverage programs; and educating patients regarding available options to reimburse the County for health care services. The HSA - C position is vacant and no longer needed. It is being cancelled to help offset the cost of these two new positions.

Failure to approve this action could result in diminished productivity of the unit which will affect the ability of Mental Health to recieve reimbursement for services provided.