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Public Health Department recommending the Chairman be authorized to sign the Declaration of Intent Not To Apply for Rural Health Services Program Funding Fiscal Year (FY) 2007-2008, thereby passing the responsibility for administering funding to the State for this indigent health care program.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: There is no fiscal impact or net County cost associated with this item.
Background: Each year, the State Department of Health Services provides city and county Public Health Departments with the opportunity to apply for Rural Health Services funding, which reimburses physicians and hospitals for the care they provide to the indigent. In the past, El Dorado County has applied for, received, and administered some of this funding, which required producing many complicated, time-consuming reports and other documentation for the State. It is no longer necessary to apply for the funding in order for local physicians and hospitals to receive it. This funding is available through direct billing from service providers, relieving Public Health of providing extensive supporting documentation. Participating local medical service providers have been billing for their services directly for the past five years, saving a great deal of County administrative effort.
Action to be taken following Board approval: Chairman to sign three (3) copies of attached Declaration; Board Clerk's Office to forward 2 signed documents to Public Health; Public Health to forward 1 signed Declaration to DHS.
Contact: Dan Buffalo
Concurrences: