Title
Adopt an ordinance adding Chapter 2.46 to the Monterey County Code to establish the Santa Cruz-Monterey-Merced-San Benito-Mariposa Managed Medical Care Commission and repealing Chapter 2.45 of the Monterey County Code to terminate the Santa Cruz-Monterey-Merced Managed Medical Care Commission.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Adopt an ordinance adding Chapter 2.46 to the Monterey County Code to establish the Santa Cruz-Monterey-Merced-San Benito-Mariposa Managed Medical Care Commission and repealing Chapter 2.45 of the Monterey County Code to terminate the Santa Cruz-Monterey-Merced Managed Medical Care Commission.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Santa Cruz-Monterey-Merced Managed Medical Care Commission dba Central Coast Alliance for Health (“the Alliance”) is a health plan developed to improve access to health care for lower income residents in the counties of Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Merced who often lacked a primary care “medical home” and so relied on emergency rooms for basic services. The Alliance has pursued this mission by linking members to primary care physicians and clinics that deliver timely services and preventive care and arrange referrals to specialty care.
On August 24, 2021, the Board of Supervisors introduced, waived the reading, and set today’s date to adopt the proposed ordinance adding Chapter 2.46 to the Monterey County Code to establish the Santa Cruz-Monterey-Merced-San Benito-Mariposa Managed Medical Care Commission and repealing Chapter 2.45 of the Monterey County Code to terminate the Santa Cruz-Monterey-Merced Managed Medical Care Commission.
Under the proposed Ordinance, the Alliance seeks to add additional County members to the Alliance: San Benito County and Mariposa County, and to expand the number of voting commission members. Currently, the Alliance has 21 voting commission members, seven (7) from each of the three (3) counties. the new Alliance will have 25 voting commission members. The number of commission members from a given County shall be based upon the number of Medi-Cal beneficiaries within each County. Under this new formula, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors shall appoint five (5) commissioners to the Alliance.
The new Alliance shall be established effective on the date that all five (5) counties have in effect substantially similar ordinances creating the Alliance and a quorum of commission members have met to conduct its initial public meeting. The State Department of Health Care Services has requested that the five (5) counties submit their approved ordinances by October 1, 2021. The current 3-county Alliance would operate through 2023, and the new 5-county health plan would not be expected to commence operations until January 1, 2024.
On August 2, 2021, the Health, Housing, Homelessness & Human Services Committee recommended support of the Ordinance.
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Ordinance does not involve the approval of a "project" because the ordinance and its implementation do not result in a direct or indirect physical change in the environment or in a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. (See Pub. Resources Code Section 21065; CEQA Guidelines Sections 15357, 15377, 15378.) No further CEQA analysis is required.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Director of Health and the Interim CEO of Natividad Medical Center concur with the recommendation. County Counsel reviewed and approved the ordinance as to form and legality.
FINANCING:
There will be no financial impact to the General Fund from passage of the ordinance.
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: Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health, 755-4526
Approved by:
______________________________Date:______________
Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health, 755-4526
Approved by:
______________________________Date:______________
Charles R. Harris, M.D., Interim Chief Executive Officer, Natividad 783-2553
Attachment:
Draft Ordinance creating the Santa Cruz-Monterey-Merced-San Benito-Mariposa Managed Medical Care Commission