HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07111989 - 1.54 t: . (,
100054
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
,FROM; Mark Finucane, Department of Health Services Contra V,/�IJJ�C 'LLa
DATE; June 22, 1989 Cryty
SUBJECT; SB 822 �'� N7
SPECIFIC REQUESTS) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) A BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
Recommendation: Support SB 822 (Rosenthal ) , which will streamline the
Medi -Cal application process for pregnant women, resulting in improved
reimbursement for county health services. Notify state legislative
representatives of Contra Costa support .
Background and Justification: SB 822 will improve and expedite access to
prenatal care for Medi-Cal eligible women by encouraging counties to
outstation eligibility workers in clinics and by adopting the federal
option to waive the asset test for pregnant women.
Existing state law requires the State Department of Health Services to
establish. and maintain the County Administrative Cost Control Plan which
sets standards and performance criteria for counties in the
administration of eligibility for Medi -Cal benefits . The law also
requires that reimbursement for OUtstationed eligibility functions be
based solely on productivity standards applied to the particular county ' s
welfare department .
SB 822 would authorize counties to petition the state for modification
of its Cost Control Plan in order to implement an optional plan for
eutstationing eligibility workers at clinic sites to facilitate the
receipt and processing of Medi-Cal applications for pregnant women. This
bill would exempt counties from the requirement that reimbursement be
based solely on productivity standards.
In addition caB 822 would authorize the state to advance administrative
funding to a county for which it approves a modified Cost Control Plan
to cover the costs of outstationed eligibility workers .
Lastly , the bill would require the state to adopt the federal Medicaid
option to waive the use of an asset test for determining eligibility of
pregnant women and infants and to make a shortened application form
available to counties .
Alameda County has conducted an outstation pilot project since November ,
1988 with considerable success . The Medi-Cal approval rate for women
applying at the outstation sites is considerably higher than that for
pregnant women applying at Social Service Agency sites. denials were
CONTINUED ON ATTACIMENT: _ YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTIIER
SIGNA UR 3 : n ,
ACTION OF BOARD ON ~2d APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER _
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 IIEREBY CERTIFY TIIAT MIS IS A TRUE
// UNANIMOUS (ABSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES. AND ENTERED ON TIIE M 1 NUTES OF TIIE BOARD
ABSENT; ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON TIIE DATE SIIDWN.
cc: County Administrator JUL 11 1989
Health Services Director ATTESTED
Senator Rosenthal PHIL BATCIIELon. CLERK OF TIIE BOARD OF
Les Spahnn, SRJ. Jackson, Barish & Assoc.
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M381/7-83 BY z ,DEPUTY
t
due to excess assets. Productivity levels for outstationed eligibility
workers have been found to be comparable to those of workers at Social
Service offices. The process has removed significant barriers to
enrolling pregnant women in Medi-Cal : as a result more women will arrive
for delivery at the county hospital already enrolled in Medi-Cal .
The Alameda County Social Service Agency estimates that only 1 .2% of all
pregnant Medi.-Cal applicants have excess assets. A Congressional Budget
Office study made a similar estimate. Waiving the assets test for
pregnant women will Have little effect on determination of eligibiiity
and will make better use of eligibility workers ' time. Decreasing
barriers to Medi-Cal enrollment for patients will improve Medi-Cal
reimbursement for pre-natal care and delivery at our County Hospital and
Clinics.
The bill is supported by the County Supervisor ' s Association of
California and the California Welfare Director 's Association.