Agenda

Return

D. 4

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Date:	April 12, 2016

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Endorsement Request - Medi-Cal Funding and Accountability Act

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/12/2016

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:

L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097

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: April 12, 2016
,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT a position of support on the Medi-Cal Funding and Accountability Act.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Act makes the Medi-Cal hospital fee program and the protections permanent to create more certainty and to deliver approximately $10 billion in matching funds during the first three years. The Act also ensures that these funds cannot be diverted for other purposes.

BACKGROUND:

The Legislation Committee at its March 14, 2016 meeting recommended that the Board of Supervisors consider the Medi-Cal Funding and Accountability Act and adopt a position of support on it.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

In the fall of 2013, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 239 (Hernandez), which was passed by the state Legislature without a single “No” vote. The legislation established an initial three-year Medi-Cal hospital fee program to ensure that California can unlock billions annually in federal matching funds for supplemental Medi-Cal payments to hospitals. The Act makes the fee program and the protections permanent to create more certainty and to deliver approximately $10 billion in matching funds during the first three years.

The Act also ensures that these funds cannot be diverted for other purposes. Without ongoing protections for the hospital fee program, hospitals that care for children, seniors and low-income residents will be vulnerable to payment cuts or other budget politics. Funding protected by the Act will help prevent closures or cutbacks in local hospitals

and will help preserve access for millions of men, women and children. California is home to more than 12 million Medi-Cal beneficiaries, more than half of which are children.

The Medi-Cal Funding and Accountability Act (branded as ‘Keep A Good Idea Working’) is endorsed by a diverse coalition of sectors in California, including approximately 800 hospitals and health systems, health care advocacy groups, medical and dental groups, community benefit organizations, senior and children’s organizations and the business community. On Dec. 3, 2015, the Board of Directors of the California Association of Counties (CSAC) voted 51-0 to support the Act. The Coalition Website also provides additional information.

Attached is the Fact Sheet, current Master Coalition List, and Endorsement Form.

The Legislation Committee considered this initiative at their March 14, 2016 meeting and recommended that the Board of Supervisors consider the item as a Discussion item, and take a position of "Support" on it.

CLERK'S ADDENDUM

Speaker: Rebecca Rozen, Hospital Council.