Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to execute a no cost Privacy and Security Agreement (PSA) with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to continue to use data hosted by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Medi-Cal Eligibility Data System (MEDS), retroactive to September 1, 2024 through September 1, 2028; and
b. Authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three future amendments to this Agreement where the amendments do not significantly change the responsibilities of the parties.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to execute a no cost Privacy and Security Agreement (PSA) with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to continue to use data hosted by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Medi-Cal Eligibility Data System (MEDS), retroactive to September 1, 2024 through September 1, 2028; and
b. Authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three future amendments to this Agreement where the amendments do not significantly change the responsibilities of the parties.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Department of Social Services (DSS) administers the California Food
Assistance Program (CalFresh), California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids
(CalWORKs), and General Assistance safety net programs. These programs require access to data hosted by the Social Security Administration (SSA), the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to determine eligibility and continue to administer these programs. To determine eligibility for Medi-Cal, DSS required to access data hosted by DHCS.
DHCS is requesting that the County of Monterey enter into the Privacy and Security Agreement
24-08 that defines how data from SSA and CDSS Systems shall be handled to maintain the
confidentiality, integrity, and availability of such data. By executing this agreement, the Department of Social Services agrees to keep SSA/CDSS data confidential through a series of existing security controls. This agreement is a renewal of a previous agreement that expired September 1, 2024.
DSS recommends approval of this agreement to allow the department to continue utilizing SSA/CDSS/Medi-Cal data to determine the eligibility of residents of the County of
Monterey applying for services at DSS.
This Agreement was delayed in being brought forward for Board consideration prior to the start date, due to late receipt of supportive documentation mentioned in the Agreement from State of California, DHCS.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has approved the Agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
This agreement is a no cost agreement, and DSS does not expect any additional costs as a result of complying with the PSA agreement.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This action correlates to the Administration and Health & Human Services Strategic Initiatives
adopted by the Board of Supervisors by allowing the Department to continue to utilize
SSA/CDSS/Medi-Cal data to determine the eligibility of residents of the County of Monterey
applying for services at DSS.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
__Economic Development
X Administration
X Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Juan Plascencia, Departmental Information Systems Manager I, x7036
Approved by: Lori A. Medina, Director, x4430
Attachments: Agreement
The proposed agreement is on file with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report.