Title
Approve and authorize the Director of Health, the Assistant Director of Health, or the Emergency Medical Services Director, to execute a California Statewide Agreement for Emergency Medical and Health Disaster Response Mutual Aid and Mutual Assistance Agreement.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Approve and authorize the Director of Health, the Assistant Director of Health, or the Emergency Medical Services Director, to execute a California Statewide Agreement for Emergency Medical and Health Disaster Response Mutual Aid and Mutual Assistance Agreement.
SUMMARY:
The Health Department seeks authorization to execute a California Statewide Agreement for Emergency Medical and Health Disaster Response Mutual Aid and Mutual Assistance Agreement. The Medical Mutual Aid/Assistance system for California strictly follows the California Department of Public Health’s statewide Public Health and Medical Emergency Operations Manual (EOM). Compliant with the State Emergency Management System (SEMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS), the EOM dictates the pathway for situational awareness and resource requests during a disaster, from the event to the county/operational area, region, and state.
Monterey County (County) belongs to California Medical Mutual Aid Region II (Region II). In addition to the County, the Region II operational areas and local public health jurisdictions are: City of Berkeley, the City and County of San Francisco, and the Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma.
Monterey County signed an agreement between the counties in Region II on January 9, 2018 to formalize the medical and health mutual aid/assistance program. Since signing the Region II MOU Monterey County has responded to disasters within Region II and to counties outside of the region to support the medical and health needs of Counties in need. It is anticipated that Monterey County would request assistance from counties within Region II prior to seeking assistance from counties outside of the region. In the event of an earthquake where many, if not all, the counties within the region could be impacted, assistance would be needed and requested from jurisdiction outside of the impacted counties.
Unfortunately, in recent years disasters in California have overwhelmed local emergency medical and health response systems and have exhausted mutual aid/assistance from counties within the medical and health mutual aid/assistance regions. The medical and health mutual assistance program has recently seen extensive use supporting major incidents in California. The Oroville Dam incident, Santa Rosa/Napa Fires last fall, the Thomas Fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, the mudslides in Montecito, and the major fires in Redding and Mendocino County have all relied upon medical and health mutual assistance as a significant part of the response. Medical and health mutual assistance is becoming a routine aspect of disaster response in California.
Operationally, the Medical Health Operational Area Coordination (MHOAC) program functions very well. However, there have been significant challenges when it comes to reimbursing providers who supply these resources. These disasters have required assistance from counties outside of the region throughout the state.
Currently, there is no agreement between the counties and local health jurisdictions for sharing resources and/or financial responsibility for reimbursement outside of ones assigned region. Further, the lack of pre-event agreements to share emergency medical and health resources between counties and local health beyond regional boundaries during a disaster prevents the impacted county from quickly qualifying and/or obtaining potential recovery costs from the State or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
DISCUSSION:
This statewide Agreement would allow impacted counties to request and unimpacted counties to share resources during a disaster, seek reimbursement, in accordance with state and federal disaster relief fund requirements. A statewide Agreement would enable an expedited process to access needed resources outside of the existing regional medical and health mutual aid/assistance areas when necessary. Having an Agreement in place between all counties in California for medical and health emergency and disaster response, clarifies the process and makes it easier for both the requesting and responding counties to meet the needs of the communities impacted by the events. An MOU provides for a clear process to receive funds and get reimbursement for services rendered during an emergency.
Under the proposed Agreement, counties and local health jurisdictions agree to provide emergency medical and health personnel, equipment, and supplies when they can, in the event of a disaster when an impacted county request assistance. In addition, the assisting agency may request reimbursement from the impacted county for emergency medical and health personnel, equipment, and supplies.
This work supports the Monterey County Health Department 2018-2022 Strategic Plan Goal: 4. Engage MCHD workforce & improve operational functions to meet current & developing population health needs. It also supports the following of the ten essential public health services, specifically: 8. Assure competent public and personal health care workforce.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of the County Counsel has approved the Agreement to form. Additionally, the Agreement has been reviewed and approved by County Counsels, Health Officers, and EMS Administrators who are designated as the Medical and Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC).
FINANCING:
This agreement will have no impact on the General Fund Contribution.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
☐Economic Development:
• Through collaboration, strengthen economic development to ensure a diversified and healthy economy.
☐Administration:
• Promote an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management and is recognized for responsiveness, strong customer orientation, accountability and transparency.
☒Health & Human Services:
• Improve health and quality of life through County supported policies, programs, and services; promoting access to equitable opportunities for healthy choices and healthy environments in collaboration with communities.
☐Infrastructure:
• Plan and develop a sustainable, physical infrastructure that improves the quality of life for County residents and supports economic development results.
☐Public Safety:
• Create a safe environment for people to achieve their potential, leading businesses and communities to thrive and grow by reducing violent crimes as well as crimes in general.
Prepared by: Teresa Rios, EMS Bureau Chief, 783-7082
Approved by:
______________________________Date:____________
Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health, 755-4526
Attachment:
Statewide Medical Health Agreement