REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 8, 2021
FROM
GILBERT RAMOS, Director, Transitional Assistance Department
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with Loma Linda University Institute for Community Partnerships to Provide Medi-Cal Health Enrollment Navigator Project Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1, effective July 1, 2021, to Contract No. 20-969 with Loma Linda University Institute for Community Partnerships to provide Medi-Cal Health Enrollment Navigator Project services, increasing the total contract amount by $610,149, from $611,981 to an amount not to exceed $1,222,130, and extending for an additional nine months, for a total contract period of October 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022.
(Presenter: Gilbert Ramos, Director, 388-0245)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The cost for Medi-Cal Health Enrollment Navigator Project services is not expected to exceed $1,222,130 and is 100% state funded by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Adequate appropriation and revenue will be included in the Human Services Administrative Claim 2021-22 recommended budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Under the terms of the recommended amendment, Loma Linda University (LLU) Institute for Community Partnerships (ICP) will continue to provide Medi-Cal Health Enrollment Navigator Project services to target high risk and marginalized groups to increase Medi-Cal enrollment and promote higher retention rates by promoting community access and education.
The Medi-Cal program is California’s Medicaid program, established to provide low-cost or no-cost public health insurance to low-income and disabled individuals. Assembly Bill 74 (Chapter 23, Statutes 2019) (Budget Act of 2019) authorized grant funding for Medi-Cal outreach, enrollment, renewal/retention, and troubleshooting services, hereafter called “navigation services,” directed to several groups who have experienced limited access and decreased enrollment within the Medi-Cal program.
Upon approval by the Board of Supervisors, LLU ICP will continue to work with the County to develop Medi-Cal outreach strategies targeting the following populations:
1. Aged persons
2. Persons who are homeless
3. Immigrants and families with mixed immigration status
4. Persons with limited English proficiency
5. Young people of color
6. Low-wage workers and their families or dependents
7. Uninsured children and youth formerly enrolled in Medi-Cal
The goals of the Medi-Cal Health Enrollment Navigator Project are to increase the number of Medi-Cal applications received from the various target populations and expand Medi-Cal education and access through the provision of outreach and enrollment events focused on the target populations and by performing activities resulting in retention of Medi-Cal recipients. LLU ICP will coordinate and provide virtual outreach events and COVID-19 compliant in person outreach at strategic locations throughout the County, focused on the target populations indicated above.
PROCUREMENT
On September 29, 2020 (Item No. 70), as the result of a formal procurement, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract No. 20-969 with LLU ICP to provide Medi-Cal Health Enrollment Navigator Project services in the amount of $611,981 for the period of October 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, with two one-year extension options contingent on future funding and by mutual agreement of both parties.
Contractor performance will continue to be measured by reviewing invoices and monthly reports by County staff to monitor compliance with the requirements of the contract.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Jennifer Mulhall-Daudel, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on May 14, 2021; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 17, 2021; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on May 11, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on May 18, 2021.