Agenda

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C. 22

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	William Walker, M.D., Health Services
Date:	February 3, 2015

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Add one Pharmacist I position in the Health Services Department

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 02/03/2015

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Kristen Cunningham, 957-5267

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: February 3, 2015
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Position Resolution No. 21605 to add one (1) permanent full-time Pharmacist I (VYWA) position ($7,813-$9,045) in the Contra Costa Health Plan division of the Health Services Department.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The additional costs associated with this action will be $172,690 annually with benefits. The costs will be offset by CCHP Enterprise Fund III (100%).

BACKGROUND:

The Health Services Department is requesting the additional Pharmacist I in its Health Plan division due to increased mandated requirements. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is implementing a new requirement that all Health plans meet a 24-hour turn around time for all prior authorizations for medication. We are currently only meeting this requirement 60 percent of the time. The risk to CCHP is that if we fail to meet the deadline, prior authorization requests can be deemed approved whether or not we agree. If we deny all requests not reached within this 24-hour period, our denial rate will significantly increase, rework by our staff and providers is necessary, and members are upset. This could be avoided in cases where reaching the physician for more information might result in an approval. With an additional Pharmacist on staff the Department could be in compliance with this new DHCS requirement.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If this action is not approved and without additional staff, Contra Costa Health Plan's Pharmacy unit will not be able to meet the mandated requirements of the Plan.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Not applicable.