Title
HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding the Santa Barbara County Indigent Care Program (ICP), as follows: (EST. TIME: 1 HR.)
a) Consider three options to administer the ICP; (1) fully administered by the County, (2) administered by the Santa Barbara San Luis Obispo Regional Health Authority, doing business as CenCal Health (CenCal), or (3) administered by the County Medical Services Program (CMSP);
i) Per option 2, select CenCal to act as a Third-Party Administrator of operations;
1) Direct staff to engage with CenCal to act as a Third-Party Administrator of operations, with the County’s Department of Social Services (DSS) leading eligibility determinations, starting July 2027;
2) Approve the proposed ICP framework for eligibility, scope of benefits, coverage period and effective date, patient financial responsibility, and appeals, or provide other direction; and
3) Direct staff to return in Spring 2027 with an Agreement for Services with CenCal Health, if your Board selects CenCal as the administrator, a Resolution to Amend the ICP Eligibility Guidelines and Standards, and a related budget action request;
b) Provide other direction, as appropriate; and
c) Determine that the above-recommended actions are not projects that are subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4), finding that the actions are governmental funding mechanisms and/or fiscal activities that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION: POLICY