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Health Services Department recommending the Board approve an application to the Blue Shield of California Foundation for their Low Income Health Program (LIHP) implementation grant program.
FUNDING: Blue Shield of California Foundation grant.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this grant. If this application is successful, the County could receive up to $150,000.
Background:
Blue Shield of California Foundation is offering short-term grants of up to $150,000 to assist counties in implementing Low Income Health Programs (LIHP) at the local level. The Department became aware of this grant opportunity in the first half of September, and the application was due to the grantor on September 27, 2011, leaving insufficient time to bring the application to the Board prior to the deadline. As required by Board policy A-6, the Department submitted a letter noting that the application can not be considered binding until ratified by the Board of Supervisors. The Department now brings this request to the Board for approval of the application.
As the Board is aware, El Dorado County is one of thirty-four (34) member counties who participate in the County Medical Services Program (CMSP), ensuring mandated health care for medically indigent adults. In January 2012, CMSP is scheduled to go live with a new low income health program (LIHP), known as Path2Health, that will cover eligible applicants up to 100% of the Federal poverty level (with no monthly share of cost). Path2Health will operate as a 2-year pilot project (pending Federal Health Care Reform measures scheduled for 2014) in tandem with a residual CMSP program which provides coverage for eligible adults up to 200% FPL (with a share of cost).
The Department's Blue Shield grant application is focused on activities that will support the effective implementation of the CMSP LIHP, Path2Health, within El Dorado County. Specifically, the proposed grant objectives include:
1. Building local capacity and expanding the network of local providers by convening key stakeholders, providing education and outreach materials, and encouraging the design of systematic solutions to meet LIHP clients' needs.
2. Using existing Access El Dorado (ACCEL) Initiative Care Pathways to assist selected, highly complex LIHP-eligible clients in securing healthcare coverage.
3. Using existing ACCEL Care Pathways to assist selected, highly complex LIHP patients in securing a medical home for primary care.
4. Strengthening integration between primary care, mental health, and substance abuse disorder providers to improve coordination between the agencies furnishing services.
5. Using technology to enable sharing of patient information across providers with the goal of improving patient health outcomes.
Reason for Recommendation:
Approval of the Department's grant application will allow the Department to compete for Blue Shield grant funding that will support implementation of the CMSP LIHP, known as Path2Health, that will soon be available to eligible residents of El Dorado County.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1. Board Clerk's Office to provide Certified Board Minutes demonstrating Board approval of the Department's grant application;
2. Department to submit Board Minutes to grantor;
3. If the Department's grant application is successful, Department to return to Board with grant documents for execution.
Contact: Daniel Nielson, ext 7275