HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12061988 - 2.5 2. 5
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on _December 6, 1988__, by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Powers, Fanden, McPeak, Torlakson, Schroder
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SUBJECT: Long Term Health Care Legislation
Mark Finucane, Health Services Director, reported on progress
made during the past year on long term health care issues
contained in legislative priorities of the Board of Supervisors.
He noted that the need for long term health care has generated a
great deal of interest at the State and National level also. Mr.
Finucane spoke also on the need to include long term care with
other priority issues such as the treatment of AIDS and trauma,
issues which he will be presenting to the Association of Bay Area
Health Directors for a lobbying effort to the State Legislature.
Following discussion, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the
Health Services Director is REQUESTED to pursue legislation
relative to long term care.
I heroby cortify fl-En'
an actici. taken ac... :c oat :;� n:i.. c.y;ae
CA: Health Services Director Board of Supervisors on the d;a!v shcuin.
County Administrator ATTESTZD: &Z 6'-, Z 1
P141L BATCHELOR, Clerk of the ;card
of Supervisors znd County Adn:Enistra.or
By Q- 7?Zr�r��� ,Deputy
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT
NOV 10 Joj88
Oflko of
To: C. L. Van Marter, Date: November 4, 1988
Assistant Administrator
From: Mark Finucane, f,�jecv Long Term Care Legislation
Health Services Director
This is to advise you of progress made during the past year on the long term
care issues contained in the Board' s legislative priorities .
Of course, this issue is one that has generated a lot of interest not only in
Contra Costa County but at the State and National level . With the passage of
catastrophic health care legislation this year, Congress is clearly heading in
the direction of tackling this major issue as well .
Actions we have taken on specific Board proposals will be detailed below, but it
is important for me to mention that I will be proposing that the Association of
Bay Area Health Directors include long term care with their priority issues
along with AIDS and Trauma. By so doing, this organization can provide more
'political clout with the State Legislature and the importance of addressing this
pressing need will be more clearly evident.
As for the Board' s specific proposals for long term care, we can report the
following:
1. In response to the Director of the State Department of Health
Services , Ken Kizer' s request for my comments on his "Safety
Net" policy, I proposed increased per diem rates for nursing
homes which are willing to accept a specific percentage of
Medi -Cal patients .
2. We have frequently expressed our concerns to the State Department
of Health Services Licensing and Certification Division that
excessive punitive action to nursing homes will discourage future
acceptance of Medi -Cal patients . As you know, we have been involved
on several occasions when a nursing home was either decertified by
Medi-Cal or there was a threat to do so.
3. The Contra Costa Health Plan reported to the Board of Supervisors
earlier this year on the feasibility of providing long term care
insurance through The Plan. Milt Camhi and his staff are presently
seeking funding from several Foundations for a comprehensive feasi-
bility study of this issue. If it is a viable option, necessary
legislation would be sought at that time.
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A-4 1
2.
4. In February the County Counsel ' s Office reported to the Board
on the issue of a property tax exemption for nursing homes .
Their opinion was that a constitutional amendment would be
required to exempt real property of nursing homes . This would
require a vote of the electorate through the initiative or
referendum process . However, personal property of nursing homes
could be exempted through the legislative process . We are
unaware of any efforts to pursue either of these exemptions .
5. We have requested County Counsel ' s opinion on the issue of
acceptance of Medi -Cal patients as a condition of approval for
a land use permit. That office is still researching this
complex issue.
Finally, several long term care bills were passed by the Legislature and signed
by the Governor this past year. However, they were of little or no consequence
in the Board' s concern for adequate nurisng home beds for Medi-Cal patients .
Assembly Bill 3901 (Roos) which is related to long term care insurance requires
the Insurance Commissioner, with the advice of the Department of Corporations,
to prepare a guide that explains the factors to be considered in selecting long
term care insurance and the conveniences of particular clauses and exclusions .
We will keep you advised of progress in these matters including any actions
taken by the Association of Bay Area Health Directors .
MF:LB:bgg
cc: V. J. Westman, County Counsel
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