Title
Approve the Agreement with the California State Department of Health Care Services for reimbursement of inpatient medical expenses for inmates at the Monterey County Jail through the Medi-Cal for Inmate Program (MCIP).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve the Agreement with the California State Department of Health Care Services for reimbursement of inpatient medical expenses for inmates at the Monterey County Jail through the Medi-Cal for Inmate Program (MCIP).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On October 8, 2013 California Assembly Bill No.720, Chapter 646 was passed, adding Section 4011.11 to the Penal Code and amending Section 14011.10 of the Welfare and Institutions Code relating to inmates. These legislative actions created the Medi-Cal for Inmates Program (MCIP), with a start date of January 1, 2014. Prior to the creation of this program, all medical care costs of inmates were borne by the County where inmate was incarcerated.
The program has three sections covering Adults, Juvenile Wards and the compassionate release of terminally ill inmates. Adult prisoners meeting Medi Cal eligibility guidelines are eligible to have inpatient hospital stays, in a non-correctional care facility, of 24 hours or more covered by Medi-Cal. The Adult eligibility piece of the program serves as the main focus of this board report, as Probation has had only two (2) hospitalizations occur under the Juvenile Wards component of the program. The County has not had a prisoner meeting compassionate release criterion in recent years.
Community Oriented Correctional Health Services (COCHS) was retained as a consultant to provide assistance and guidance on formulation of an enrollment strategy. COCHS met with the Sheriff's Office, Probation Department, County Counsel, Department of Social Services and the County Administrator's Office- Office of Community Engagement and Strategic Advocacy to draft an action plan. One of the action items deeme...
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