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Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute the Second Amendment to Agreement No. 28384, from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health with the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services to provide Community Outreach, Enrollment, Utilization and Retention (COEUR) services for the benefit of low-income families to gain affordable medical insurance; and increase appropriations in the Health Fund (SR 130) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HE) by $174,223. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On April 22, 2003, the City Council accepted a grant award in the amount of $132,962 from the County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services (County) for the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) to conduct outreach, to assist with enrollment and utilization of services, and to retain health insurance benefits coverage for uninsured children (0-5 years) and families who may be eligible for Healthy Kids, Medi-Cal, Healthy Families or other low-cost health care programs in the city. This agreement is funded with monies from the Healthy Kids Program of the First 5 LA, Los Angeles County Children and Families First - Proposition 10 Commission. The initial agreement term was from July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004 with annual one-year renewals through June 30,2008. To preserve the continuity of the grant's services, the Health Department had previously requested the ability to automatically renew these contracts annually for the duration of the five-year grant period provided that the County renews the grant. The County has offered an amendment to extend this contract for one additional year, for the term of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.
Additionally, the Health Department works with a subcontractor to carry out the goals of this grant. Of the $160,467 in funds from the County expected this fiscal year period, the Health Department plans to utilize $60,000 to sustain the outreach, enrollment, and case-management subcontract with The Children's Clinic, located in Council District 6, as a collaborative community-based agency that was selected based on its ability to serve special population groups and to reach program goals.
Through this collaboration between the Health Department and the subcontractor, the program will conduct outreach to a minimum of 10,000 families and will provide enrollment assistance to at least 800. Follow-up will be conducted with each family to ensure successful enrollment and utilization of benefits, and to provide ongoing assistance to maintain health insurance coverage.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Lori A. Conway on June 18, 2008 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on July 8, 2008.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this matter is requested on July 22, 2008 in order to continue services and funding without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive an increase in revenues in the amount of $160,467 for the grant period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. An appropriation increase of $174,223 is included in the recommendation. The difference between the grant revenue and the appropriation reflect unreimbursed fringe and indirect expenses supported by the Health Fund (SR) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HE). There is no impact to the General Fund (GP 100) associated with this appropriation increase.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ronald R. Arias
Director of Health and Human Services
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APPROVED: |
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PATRICK H. WEST |
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CITY MANAGER |