Title
Designate the Monterey County Sheriff's Office as the Authorized Representative on Medi-Cal applications for inmates needing inpatient hospital care.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Designate the Monterey County Sheriff's Office as the Authorized Representative on Medi-Cal applications for inmates needing inpatient hospital care.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION
Chapter 646 of AB 720, which was signed by the Governor on October 8, 2013, authorizes your Board to designate an entity or entities to act on behalf of a county jail inmate for the purpose of applying for Medi-Cal eligibility for acute inpatient hospital services. This bill also authorizes the county to seek reimbursement for acute inpatient hospital services when an inmate is admitted to a non-correctional health care facility.
The recommended action designates the Sheriff's Office as the Authorized Representative on Medi-Cal applications for inmates needing inpatient hospital care when the inmate is either unable or unwilling to submit the application. The Department of Social Services will designate staff members to work with the Sheriff's Office to complete applications and to determine Medi-Cal eligibility as required. However, the application itself will be authorized by either the patient or the Sheriff's Office in order to assure separation of authority.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
This recommended designation was developed in partnership between the Sheriff's Office, the Department of Social Services, the County Administrator's Office-Office of Community Engagement and Strategic Advocacy and the Office of County Counsel. Development of this process is part of the work of the Community Corrections Partnership contract with Community Oriented Correctional Health Services which is working with the County to develop solutions for accessing health services to prevent recidivism and improve outcomes for offenders reintegrating into the community.
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