Title
Conduct a public hearing to consider:
a. Adopting a resolution finding that the expenditure of funds from the Natividad Medical Center (NMC) Fiscal Year 2015/2016 Budget to support a Funding Agreement with Healthcare Foundation of Northern and Central California (“Healthcare Foundation”), a California corporation, assisting Healthcare Foundation in meeting the direct costs of a Medical Respite Program (“MRP”) for homeless persons in Monterey County, has a direct and primary public purpose, benefiting Monterey County, in general, and NMC, in particular;
b. Authorizing the Deputy Purchasing Agent for NMC or his designee to execute a Funding Agreement with Healthcare Foundation, to provide funding to Hospital Foundation in an amount not to exceed $105,000 to assist in meeting the direct costs of the MRP, for a term beginning April 19, 2016 through April 18, 2017; and
c. Authorizing the Deputy Purchasing Agent for NMC or his designee to execute up to three (3) future amendments to the Funding Agreement, each of which does not exceed twelve (12) months or significantly alter the scope of work, and which in the aggregate do not cause an increase of more than ten percent (10%) ($10,500) of the original cost of the Agreement.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Conduct a public hearing to consider:
a. Adopting a resolution finding that the expenditure of funds from the Natividad Medical Center (NMC) Fiscal Year 2015/2016 Budget to support a Funding Agreement with Healthcare Foundation of Northern and Central California (“Healthcare Foundation”), a California corporation, assisting Healthcare Foundation in meeting the direct costs of a Medical Respite Program (“MRP”) for homeless persons in Monterey County, has a direct and primary public purpose, benefiting Monterey County, in general, and NMC, in particular;
b. Authorizing the Deputy Purchasing Agent for NMC or his designee to execute a Funding Agreement with Healthcare Foundation, to provide funding to Hospital Foundation in an amount not to exceed $105,000 to assist in meeting the direct costs of the MRP, for a term beginning April 19, 2016 through April 18, 2017; and
c. Authorizing the Deputy Purchasing Agent for NMC or his designee to execute up to three (3) future amendments to the Funding Agreement, each of which does not exceed twelve (12) months or significantly alter the scope of work, and which in the aggregate do not cause an increase of more than ten percent (10%) ($10,500) of the original cost of the Agreement.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
In 2013, the hospitals of Monterey County convened and collaborated with the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California to search for a solution to meet the needs of the homeless population as they are discharged from hospital stays. All hospitals have struggled with increasing readmissions that require a solution that supports timely, post-acute safe discharges for these members of the county homeless population. Historically, there are a limited number of safe discharge options for homeless individuals and hospitals often rely on motel vouchers, board and care facilities, SNFs or extended inpatient stays.
Over a two year period, representatives from the Hospital Council conducted a feasibility study of the homeless population frequenting our county’s emergency rooms, collaborated with the hospitals and developed a plan for a temporary housing solution in the form of a shelter where each hospital will have use of two beds each, and participate in a shared governance of shelter services to include a house monitor for meals, housekeeping and safety checks, a case worker to do intakes, linkages to community resources, transportation to appointments and counseling. The mission for the facility is to serve homeless adults who are in need of short term recuperative care following hospitalization, and are medically stable, independent in activities of daily living and able to care for themselves.
Availability of a medical respite program will enable hospitals to develop and implement discharge plans for clinically appropriate homeless patients that better manage hospital utilization. It is hoped that homeless patients who receive post discharge care at the respite will also experience reduced re-hospitalizations and emergency department visits as a result of social and medical linkages that will be established as part of the transition process.
The facility service objectives include:
1. Addressing the client’s immediate health needs,
2. Establishing linkages to improve access to primary and behavioral health and care coordination, and
3. Reducing hospital and emergency department unnecessary admissions/readmission,
4. Breaking the cycle of homelessness by working with the client to create connections to family and friends and assistance with benefit enrollment, transitional or permanent housing, and job training.
The facility is a collaboration among Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital and Natividad Medical Center, and Community Homeless Solutions.
Hospital Council of Northern and Central California is co-collaborator, process facilitator, and convener. Healthcare Foundation of Northern and Central California is the fiscal intermediary between the three hospitals, Community Homeless Solutions, and the respite facility.
The services and operations of the Medical Respite Facility and Program includes collaboratively developed eligibility and exclusion criteria, admission and referral workflows, intake forms, client agreements for both behavioral and medical shelter rules, and stay parameters. The planned location, scheduled to open in April, 2016, is 780 Hamilton Avenue, Seaside, California, 93955.
The Funding may be used for the following specific purposes:
• To fund the leasing of patient beds for the MRP.
• In addition, to fund administrative costs of the MRP.
• In addition, to fund care coordination and support services provided by the MRP.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed and approved this Funding Agreement as to legal form and risk provisions, and the Auditor-Controller has reviewed and approved as to payment provisions. The Funding has also been reviewed and approved by NMC’s Finance Committee on March 24, 2016 and by its Board of Trustees on April 1, 2016.
FINANCING:
The cost for this Funding Agreement is $105,000, all of which is included in the Fiscal Year 2015-16 Adopted Budget. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Prepared by: Marilyn Black, Director of Case Management, 783-2764
Approved by: Gary R. Gray, DO, Chief Executive Officer, 783-2504
Attachments:
Funding Agreement with Healthcare Foundation for Respite Facility
Proposed Resolution Funding Agreement for Respite Facility