REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
December 7, 2021
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Intergovernmental Transfer Program - Federal Matching Funds for Emergency Medical Ground Transport Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District:
1. Approve agreement with the California Department of Health Care Services allowing San Bernardino County Fire Protection District to transfer funds to the California Department of Health Care Services to obtain federal matching funds for the costs of providing emergency medical ground transport for Medi-Cal managed patients enrolled with Molina Healthcare of California Partner Plan, Inc. and the Inland Empire Health Plan during the state-established claim period of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021, with a contract term effective January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024.
2. Direct the Secretary of the Board of Directors to maintain confidentiality of the agreement identified in Recommendation No. 1 pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 1457(c)(1).
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this agreement will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The agreement with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will allow San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) to continue to receive federal matching funds under the Intergovernmental Transfer (IGT) Program. SBCFPD anticipates to receive net revenue of $1.3 million from this program for 2021-22 to help fund the costs of providing emergency medical ground transport services. This projection is virtually the same amount of actual net revenue received annually by SBCFPD in the past two years. Appropriation and revenue for the IGT Program are included in SBCFPD’s 2021-22 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since 2015-16, SBCFPD has contracted with DHCS for participation in the IGT Program as a means to receive federal matching funds for eligible Medi-Cal expenses. In accordance with the IGT Program, SBCFPD transfers funds to DHCS, which in turn uses these funds to increase the amount of Medi-Cal payments (within federal allowed levels) received by SBCFPD for the costs of providing emergency medical ground transport services.
Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) and Molina Healthcare of California Partner Plan, Inc. (Molina) are Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Providers (MMCPP) offering services to residents eligible for Medi-Cal benefits. IEHP and Molina contract with SBCFPD for emergency medical ground transport services to Medi-Cal managed care patients enrolled with IEHP and Molina. The IGT Program authorizes SBCFPD to receive federal matching funds to support the costs of providing emergency medical ground transport services for Medi-Cal managed care beneficiaries.
Approval of this agreement with DHCS will allow SBCFPD to continue to transfer funds to DHCS to obtain federal matching funds for the costs of providing emergency medical ground transport for Medi-Cal managed patients enrolled with Molina and IEHP. The agreement is recommended because the IGT Program has been financially beneficial for SBCFPD. The previous agreement between SBCFPD and DHCS for the IGT Program (Agreement No. 20-918) was approved by Board of Directors (Board) on September 29, 2020 (Item No. 74).
Pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 1457(c)(1), specific terms related to the rates of payment for health care services are not immediately subject to laws related to public records. Therefore, the Secretary of the Board is directed to maintain confidentiality of this agreement with DHCS.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Scott Runyan, Supervising Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 10, 2021; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on November 16, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Diana Atkeson, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on November 18, 2021.