To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Administration
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Partnership HealthPlan of California Commission Appointment
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Appoint Elizabeth Lara-O’Rourke to represent Humboldt County on the Partnership HealthPlan of California Board of Commissioners.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Federal and state Medi-Cal reimbursement
DISCUSSION:
As part of the Fiscal Year 2012-13 state budget, the State of California authorized expansion of Medi-Cal managed care into the 28 rural counties that had provided Medi-Cal benefits on a fee-for-service basis only.
On May 14, 2013, the Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance 2501 authorizing the County of Humboldt to join the Partnership HealthPlan of California, a regional County Organized Health System (COHS) model of Medi-Cal managed care. The COHS model has been shown to be an effective Medi-Cal managed care model for improving patient health care outcomes for Medi-Cal recipients, with a focus on prevention and primary care, and allows for local representation in its governance structure. Ordinance 2501 was later revised on April 19, 2016, when the Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance 2548 (Attachment 1) relating to the membership of the Partnership Health Plan of California Commission.
Humboldt County is allocated three representatives on the Partnership HealthPlan of California Commission, based on the number of Medi-Cal beneficiaries enrolled in the Health Plan. Ordinance 2548 amending Title V, Division 9, Chapter 1 of the County Code, Section 591-3 states that: “The members appointed by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors shall serve at the pleasure of the board and shall be selected as follows: (1) One member shall be the Director of Health and Human Services or Director’s designee. (2) Additional members will be nominated by local health care providers that serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The Director of Health and Human Services will receive and evaluate nominations and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors”.
This item is for your Board to appoint one member to fill one vacant seat to represent Humboldt County on the Commission. The vacant seat was previously held by Jed Rudd, former Chief Operating Officer of United Indian Health Services.
The Director of Health and Human Services recommends the board appoint Elizabeth Lara-O’Rourke, Chief Executive Officer of United Indian Health Services (UIHS). Working closely with nine tribal governments, UIHS provides a full spectrum of outpatient healthcare services, serving the native communities of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. Ms. Lara-O’Rourke has extensive experience in clinic operations, project management and quality improvement and is a member of North Coast Health Leadership Team (CEO Roundtable). Members of the CEO Roundtable nominated Ms. Lara-O’Rourke to the vacant Commission seat.
The commissioner appointed by the board will serve a 4-year term on the Commission.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Partnership HealthPlan of California will reimburse commissioners for all expenses necessary to attend meetings. There is no financial impact to the county General Fund associated with the recommendation before your board.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations and creating opportunities for improved safety and health.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Partnership HealthPlan, clinics, hospitals and other Medi-Cal health care providers
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The board could elect not to appoint the recommended candidate, to solicit further nominations or to appoint another individual.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance No 2548, Title V, Division 9 of the County Code
2. Elizabeth Lara-O’Rourke resume
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-8, D-8
Meeting of: 5/14/13, 4/19/16
File No.: N/A, 16-2258