REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 22, 2021
FROM
WILLIAM L. GILBERT, Director, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Extension from the California Department of Health Care Services for the Whole Person Care Pilot Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Whole Person Care Grant Agreement No. 16-986 (State Agreement No. 16-14184-SB-36) with the California Department of Health Care Services, to extend the expiration date of the Agreement by one year, from June 30, 2021 through June 30, 2022, and to increase the matching grant award in the amount of $2,453,700.
(Presenter: William L. Gilbert, Director, 580-6150)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommendation will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The grant award requires a 50/50 match with the County. The Federal Financial Participation amount is $2,453,700 and the County’s portion is $2,453,700, which will be funded by State Medi-Cal, Federal Medicare, private insurances, and other departmental revenue. Funding sources may change in the future pending any legislative activity related to the repeal and/or replacement of the Affordable Care Act. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) 2021-22 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Approval of the amendment will extend the grant period by one year and allow ARMC to continue to utilize the Whole Person Care Pilot (WPC) program through an engagement team that cultivates effective relationships with individuals who have difficulty engaging in non-emergency, routine, preventative, primary, and specialty health care services. Through WPC, ARMC is able to provide a more comprehensive and affordable healthcare program to County residents. The intention of the WPC Pilot program is to foster more efficient use of County resources and provide a wide range of services and supports to individuals who frequently access health care through emergency services or high-cost County systems of care.
On June 28, 2016 (Item No. 15), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved and authorized the submission of a grant application to the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) for Whole Person Care to develop and institute a Whole Person Care Engagement Team to improve patients’ health and well-being through coordinated efforts to address physical and behavioral health, and social services.
On September 27, 2016 (Item No. 7), due to the acceptance timelines required by DHCS, the Board designated the Director of ARMC as authorized to execute the grant acceptance documents and any subsequent non-substantive amendments necessary on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel, and directed the Director of ARMC to transmit all documents and amendments to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution. The Director of ARMC subsequently executed the grant agreement on November 29, 2016, for a grant period starting on the date of full execution of the agreement through June 30, 2021.
The WPC program was slated to expire December 31, 2020, and transition to the California Advancing & Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) program on January 1, 2021. However, due to the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic, the launch of CalAIM was postponed to January 1, 2022. As a result of the delay of CalAIM, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved a 12-month extension of the WPC Pilot Program.
On March 30, 2021, ARMC received notice from DHCS that in light of the delay of the implementation of CalAIM and the extension of the WPC Pilot Program, ARMC was approved to receive Program Year 6 total funds in the amount of $4,907,400, to continue its participation in the local WPC Pilot program (based on a federal financial contribution of $2,453,700 with matching County funds of $2,453,700).
The grant amendment is being brought to the Board retroactively as ARMC did not receive notice of the additional funds until the end of March. The item was scheduled for the next feasible Board date. ARMC recommends approval of the recommendation to ensure WPC services to County residents continue seamlessly and efficiently until the State of California transitions to the CalAIM program.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Charles Phan, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 28, 2021; ARMC Finance (Chen Wu, Finance Budget Officer, 580-3165) on May 28, 2021; Finance (Yael Verduzco, Administrative Analyst, 387-5285) on June 4, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on June 6, 2021.