Agenda

Return

C.27

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Kathy Gallagher, Employment & Human Services Director
Date:	January 7, 2020

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Health Navigators Project

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 01/07/2020

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Elaine Burres 608-4960

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: January 7, 2020
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, on behalf of the Workforce Services (WFS) Bureau to accept an allocation award from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) in an amount of $1,385,957 for the Medi-Cal Navigators Project for the period January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021.

FISCAL IMPACT:

County to receive an amount of $1,385,957 from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 to fund the Medi-Cal Health Navigators Project over a two-year period. Funding is 100% State, with no required County in-kind match.

BACKGROUND:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Contra Costa County Employment Human Services Department (EHSD) currently conducts Medi-Cal navigation services. Through our Workforce Services Bureau, we have Medi-Cal eligibility workers and other project staff to assist with navigation efforts within our three county regions, West, East and Central County. Our efforts are currently conducted in EHSD and partner service sites, and target specific populations. Approximately 240,000 individuals in Contra Costa County receive health coverage through Medi-Cal every month. DHCS funds would enable EHSD and community to conduct outreach activities to enroll and retain an estimated 7,000 individuals to Medi-Cal over the two-year grant period. The grant would allow EHSD to expand navigation efforts to include the following targeted populations: persons who are homeless; immigrants and families of mixed immigration status; and persons with limited English proficiency.

This grant funding will be used to:

Expand and increase Medi-Cal outreach and enrollment to the homeless population, both sheltered and unsheltered individuals; and
Expand and increase Medi-Cal outreach and enrollment to immigrant population, Limited English Proficient (LEP), and families of mixed immigration status.

Expenses these funds will support include two Social Services Program Assistant positions and $675,687 for contract support.

EHSD's Workforce Services Bureau will partner with Contra Costa Health Services and contracted community-based partners to deliver the Medi-Cal outreach and enrollment activities outlined in the proposal application to DHCS. Additional partners may be identified and added as needed.

Pros and cons of request:
Pros:

Leverages existing Medi-Cal services and community-based partners to address gaps in services for homeless adults, immigrants and the LEP population.
Addresses gaps in need to cover more uninsured County residents in Medi-Cal health benefits.
Provides focused Medi-Cal outreach and retention activities to understand communities.

Cons:

Sustainability of program funding beyond end of allocation term, December 31, 2021.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Without funding, the County will continue to face an increasing number of uninsured clients without access to health care and preventative services.