HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07201993 - 1.57 TO: _ BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SE
_ = Contra
FROM: Perfecto Villarreal, Director
Social Service Department = '` CoStd
-- 4° Count
"
June 22, 1993 `' '
DATE: �-�uu�`�'
SUBJECT: REQUEST Chair of the Board of Supervisors to APPROVE and EXECUTE
the attached letter in support of the Health Insurance Counseling
and Advocacy Program.
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
I. RECOMMENDED ACTION
REQUEST Chair of the Board of Supervisors to APPROVE and
EXECUTE the attached letter to California Insurance
Commissioner John Garamendi asking him to withdraw his
recommended budget cuts to the Health Insurance Counseling
and Advocacy Program (HICAP) .
II. FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Legislature passed a budget containing a 7. 5% funding
reduction to the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy
Program. Our local HICAP stands to lose $4701 from our State
contract of $62, 682 .
III. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND
Mandated under AB2419, the Health Insurance Counseling and
Advocacy Program has been operated by the County's Office on
Aging for the past eight years. This volunteer-based program
operates on minimum funding to provide individual counseling
to 1500 Contra Costa seniors and community education to
another 3500 citizens annually. Documented savings of
$127, 000 to seniors is attributed to the successful efforts
of HICAP last year.
Any funding reductions to this minimally funded program will
seriously impact its ability to adequately train, supervise
and support the volunteer efforts. The quality of services
provided our County's citizens will be diminished by these
proposed reductions in revenue.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
ltrhicap
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS /
-^1 I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISOR"N THE DATE SHOWN.
cc: contact: Lennis Lyon 313-1731 ATTESTED
PHIL CHELO ,CLERK F THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M3 BY DEPUTY
82 (10/88)
r The Board of Supervisors Phil Batchelor
Contra � Clerk of Me Board
and
• County Administration Building Costa /' County Administrator
651 Pine St., Room 106 J (510)646-2371
Martinez, California 94553 County
Tom Powers,1st District /
Jeff Smith,2nd District //
Gayle Bishop,3rd District � !
Sunne Wright McPeak 4th District
Tom Torlakson,5th District
June 22, 1993 COUS�
John Garamendi, Insurance Commissioner
California Department of Insurance
770 L Street, Suite 1120
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Commissioner ramendi:
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors requests you
withdraw your recommendation for funding reductions to the local
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Programs (HICAP's) .
These programs are cost effective, volunteer-based and operate
efficiently on minimum funding to provide necessary objective
assistance- to seniors who are overwhelmed, confused and often
victimized by the health insurance system.
In fiscal year 1991-92, HICAP provided individual counseling to
1500 Contra Costa County seniors and educational seminars to
another 4300 of our citizens. Locally our HICAP program had
documented savings of over $127,000 through the recovery of
denied medical claims and the cancellation of duplicate and
unnecessary insurance policies. Contra Costa volunteers provided
more than 3500 hours of service. During this same period of
time, HICAP programs across the State assisted 106, 000 seniors
and saved these Californians more than 4.5 million dollars.
The Contra Costa County HICAP receives $62, 682 from the State of
California. Eleven of the twenty-four programs receive less than
$51,000 annually. With these limited budgets any loss of funding
will seriously impact the ability of HICAP to adequately support
its volunteer staff and continue its high quality of service to
citizens.
The Board of Supervisors urges you to do all in your power to
keep funding for the local HICAP programs intact.
Sincerely,
Tom Torlakson, Chair
Board of Supervisors, Contra Costa County l