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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) “Annual Subvention Certificate of Compliance” and the “Annual Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance Program Certificate of Compliance” forms, which appoints and authorizes the County Veterans Services Officer (CVSO) to participate in these programs, and delegates authority to the CVSO, and their Veteran Services designees, to sign CalVet semi-annual reports, administrative documents, and fee waivers that are required to receive reimbursement funding from these programs for Fiscal Year 2023-24;
2) Authorize the CVSO to actively participate in the promotion of the California Veterans License Plate program authorized under California Military and Veterans Code Section 972.1; and
3) Authorize the use of special interest license plate fees, in accordance with California Military and Veterans Code Section 972.2, which are deposited in a special revenue fund for a General Trainee extra help staff position in the Veterans Services Program.
FUNDING: 6.6% State subvention funding, 0.5% Federal Medi-Cal matching funds, 3.5% Special Revenue Funds, 2.9% Discretionary Transient Occupancy Tax Funds, 1.7% Mental Health Services Act Funds, and 84.8% County General Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
A CVSO is a Veteran and a county employee whose duty is to assist the veteran community in applying for and maintaining available benefits and entitlements for which they may be eligible. All counties that appoint a CVSO, according to the provisions of the Military and Veterans Code are eligible to apply for state funding administered by CalVet.
The CalVet County Subvention Programs is a group of State-funded programs for reimbursement of expenses incurred in the operation of the CVSO program, mandated to reimburse counties for a portion of the costs of "presenting and pursuing any claim a Veteran may have against the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) and in establishing a Veteran's right to any privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided for by the laws of the United States or of the State of California," per the California Military and Veterans Code (CMVC) Section 971.
Since 1993, the Board has appointed a CVSO in the County and authorized Veteran’s Services participation in these CalVet programs, in compliance with California Code of Regulations, Title 12, Subchapter 4. Through participation in the CalVet Subvention Program, Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance Program, and Board appointment and maintenance of a CVSO, the County of El Dorado (County) receives revenue each Fiscal Year as follows:
1) State General Fund: State subvention funding is distributed, on a pro rata basis, to counties that establish and maintain a CVSO in accordance with CMVC Section 972.1. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 estimated revenue amount for the County is $58,000.
2) Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance: CalVet obtains federal matching funds to contribute, on a pro rata basis, to counties. These funds are used to cover the salaries and expenses of the CVSO for Medi-Cal related activities in adherence with CMVC Section 972.5. The FY 2023-24 estimated amount for the County is $4,200.
3) Veterans Service Office Fund: Under CMVC Section 972.2, the County receives revenue from special interest veteran license plate fees. These fees are deposited in a special revenue fund (SRF). The proposed use of these funds is to support a General Trainee extra help staff position in the Veterans Services Program. The FY 2023-24 estimated amount for the County is $25,454.
HHSA recommends the Board approve of this item and to sign the corresponding forms (Annual Subvention Certificate of Compliance and Annual Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance Certificate of Compliance) to ensure that State of California statutory requirements related to the CVSO program are met and to allow revenue estimated for a total of $87,654 to be reimbursable to HHSA Veteran Services for FY 2023-24.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve action items 1 and 2, the funding for the County Veterans Service Officer would be reduced by an estimated $62,200.
Should the Board decline to approve action item 3, the County would be unable to use the revenue estimated at $25,454, from special interest license plate fees. The revenue would remain in the special revenue fund until the funds are approved for use.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 12/05/2017, 17-1233, FY 2017/2018 Veteran Affairs/Annual Participation in Subvention & Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance Programs
2) 11/20/2018, 18-1658, HHSA FY 2018/2019 Veterans Affairs Annual Participation in Subvention and Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance
3) 12/10/2019, 19-1195, HHSA FY 2019/2020 Veteran Affairs Participation in Subvention and Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance
4) 12/15/2020, 20-1438, HHSA FY 2020/2021 Veterans Affairs Annual Participation in Subvention and Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance
5) 11/09/2021, 21-1450, HHSA FY 2021/2022 Veterans Affairs Annual Participation in Subvention and Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance
6) 11/15/2022, 22-1876, HHSA FY 2022/2023 HHSA/ VA Certificates of Compliance
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
In the FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget, the Veterans Service Officer position is budgeted at $83,570. Participation in the County Subvention Program and the Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance Program, ensures that El Dorado County receives State subvention funding (the FY 2023-24 amount is estimated at $58,000) as well as Federal Medi-Cal matching funds (the FY 2023-24 amount is estimated at $4,200) to help pay for this position.
In addition, by allowing the Veterans Service Officer to participate in the promotion of the California Veteran License Plate program, the license plate revenue (the FY 2023-24 amount is estimated at $25,454) that is deposited into the Veterans Special Revenue Fund will be used for extra help staffing.
In the event these funds were not received, there would be an increase to General Fund in the amount of $62,200 to fund of the County Veterans Service Officer.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain signature of Chair on one (1) original California Department of Veterans Affairs Annual Subvention Program Certificates of Compliance;
2) Obtain signature of Chair on one (1) original California Department of Veterans Affairs Annual Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance Program Certificates of Compliance; and
3) Return two (2) fully executed originals of each Certificate of Compliance to the Health and Human Services Agency Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Road, Placerville
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Good Governance
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency