To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Behavioral Health
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 Worker Retention Payments for Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Sempervirens Employees: Additional Payments
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to apply for and receive additional Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 Worker Retention Payment (WRP) funds from the Department of Health Care Services;
2. Authorize DHHS to receive funds if awarded; and
3. Authorize DHHS and the Auditor-Controller’s Office - Payroll Division to work together to ensure payments are issued to all eligible staff if the application for WRP funds is successful.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Behavioral Health Fund - 1170424; WRP issued by the Department of Health Care Services
DISCUSSION:
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) made one-time worker retention payment funding available to qualifying entities to issue payments to eligible individuals. Workers and physicians in qualifying facilities will be eligible to receive a retention payment if they:
• Were employed at least part-time during the qualifying work period of July 30, 2022 through Oct. 28, 2022; and
• Are employed by Covered Entities (CEs) or Covered Services Employers (CSEs) or who is a physician who continues to provide onsite services as of the date of record, Nov. 28, 2022.
The Psychiatric Health Facility run by DHHS-Behavioral Health, Sempervirens, qualifies as a CE because it is classified as an acute psychiatric hospital as defined by Health and Safety Code section 1250(b). On March 14, 2023, your Board authorized applying for and distributing Worker Retention Payment funds in the amount of $19,750. Since that time additional eligible employees were identified as meeting the criteria to be eligible for the worker retention payments.
Accordingly, DHHS recommends that the Board of Supervisors authorize DHHS to request and distribute Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 WRP funds from the Department of Health Care Services and distribute the funds to eligible staff.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1170, 424) |
FY22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
19,750 |
11,750 |
0 |
|
Total Expenditures |
19,750 |
11,750 |
0 |
|
Funding Sources (1170, 424) |
FY22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected* |
FY24-25 Projected* |
|
State/Federal Funds |
19,750 |
11,750 |
0 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
19,750 |
11,750 |
0 |
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
California Department of Healthcare Services will determine the final distribution of funds on the basis of the validated number of applicants. DHHS-Behavioral Health estimates additional worker retention payments to be distributed to qualified workforce to total $11,750, not to exceed revenues received. Approved FY 2023-24 DHHS-Behavioral Health Administration budget unit 1170424 has sufficient appropriation in Salary and Wages expenditure category to accommodate the WRP payments to eligible staff.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Staff from Auditor-Controller’s Office - Payroll Division and DHHS will work together to identify the employees who may be entitled to the payments detailed in this agenda item.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by investing in county employees.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Department of Health Care Services
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to authorize DHHS to apply for and accept additional Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 Worker Retention Payment (WRP) funds, however this alternative is not recommended as it will prevent staff from receiving compensation to which they would otherwise be eligible.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: D-5
Meeting of: March 14, 2023
File No.: 22-1750