Title
Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Approve non-financial Memorandum of Understanding 5594 (MOU) with the California Government Operations Agency for the County’s continued eligibility to receive allocations of COVID-19 vaccine, for a term to begin upon final signature and continue until completion of COVID-19 vaccination services or until terminated by Health and Human Serivces;
2) Delegate authority to the Health and Human Services Director to execute MOU 5594; and
3) Authorize the Health and Human Services Director to sign future amendments to MOU 5594, if any, and contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On March 16, 2021, the Executive Director of the Health Officers Association of California contacted County Health Officers regarding a State-negotiated Memorandum of Understanding, identifying Blue Shield as the State’s Third-Party Administrator (TPA), responsible for supplying COVID-19 vaccinations to participating counties/local health jurisdictions. In this role, Blue Shield is to collaborate and coordinate vaccination plans with counties and/or Local Health Jurisdictions and propose directly to the Government Operations Agency (Agency) intended allocations and distributions for all vaccine providers participating in the statewide network within each jurisdiction.
As a result of Blue Shield serving as the TPA, the California Government Operations Agency has issued an MOU to establish expectations and conditions for a continued distribution of vaccines to the County. The MOU also serves to ensure that Blue Shield consults with the County or Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) before making any allocation recommendations, and to ensure allocation decisions made by the Agency are concurrently communicated to the County/LHJ and Blue Shield. At its discretion, the County/LHJ, subject to approval of the Agency, may distribute portions of allocated vaccines to County/LHJ-supported sites.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve this recommendation, it could become more difficult to obtain sufficient COVID-19 vaccine allocations for the County’s vulnerable populations.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel, Emergency Operations Center, and Risk Management
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to provide one (1) Minute Order to HHSA Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Road.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
County Strategic Goal: “Healthy Communities.”
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director