Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors, Acting as the Governing Board of the Area Agency on Aging
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Lee Pullen, Director, Aging and Disability Services
Subject: Provider Agreement with Self Help for the Elderly for the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program
RECOMMENDATION:
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Acting as the Governing Board of the Area Agency on Aging for the County of San Mateo, adopt a resolution authorizing:
A) The acceptance of Older Americans Act (OAA) funds for the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program from the California Department of Aging in the amount of $364,728; and
B) The execution of a provider agreement with Self Help for the Elderly for the term of April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.
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BACKGROUND:
Every four years, the Board of Supervisors, acting as the Governing Board for the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for the County of San Mateo, reviews and approves an Area Plan for the County’s submission to the California Department of Aging (CDA). The Area Plan provides a profile of the County’s senior population, identifies goals for addressing the needs of older adults and adults with disabilities, and makes recommendations for services to be funded with San Mateo County’s Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA) funds. This includes the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP).
In May 2024, this Board approved a resolution adopting the 2024-2028 Area Plan.
In February 2022, Aging and Disability Services (ADS) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the provision of HICAP services to older adults and adults with disabilities for the term of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2026, along with other OAA services. Self Help for the Elderly was the provider selected by the RFP Evaluation Committee to provide HICAP services to San Mateo County residents.
Since then, ADS has continued to partner with Self Help for the Elderly to provide HICAP services to fulfill the goals and objectives in the Area Plan. HICAP provides health insurance counseling to an average of 996 County clients per year. Making this service available allows clients to make informed decisions regarding their health care needs and informs them of benefits available to them. Having a trusted source for health insurance information is crucial to the Area Plan’s goal of maintaining a healthy aging population. This funding MOU with CDA allows the County to accept HICAP funds to support this work.
DISCUSSION:
Previously, the County’s practice was to include HICAP in the Board’s authorization to accept CDA funding and execute provider agreements for OAA services. Because CDA’s funding year for HICAP is April 1st through March 31st, while the remaining OAA programs are funded from July 1st through June 30th, ADS recommends authorizing HICAP separately, in order to simplify the contracting process between the AAA and its HICAP service provider.
The terms of the agreement with Self Help for the Elderly are consistent with prior agreements and comply with CDA requirements. The agreement focuses on serving low-income and minority individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas.
ADS requests that this Board authorize the Chief of San Mateo County Health or the Chief’s designee to prepare and execute the HICAP provider agreement for the term of April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, as well as any future amendments that modify the County’s maximum fiscal obligation by no more than $25,000 (in aggregate) and/or modify the contract term and/or services, so long as the modified term or services is/are within the current or revised fiscal provisions, including future one-time-only funds or additional funds received and allocated for the contract period. The amounts will be determined based on the funding agreement(s) released by CDA as well as County general funds allocated based on the County budget process.
The resolution has been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form, and all agreements will be approved by the County Attorney as to form.
This agreement is coming to this Board late as a result of ADS’ decision to submit the HICAP agreement separately from the other OAA contracts, in order to simplify the contracting process. It is anticipated that 1,310 unduplicated older adults will be served by HICAP.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Actual |
FY 2025-26 Estimated |
|
Number of unduplicated older adults served by HICAP |
1,283 adults |
1,310 adults |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
HICAP will provide older adults and adults with disabilities who are eligible for Medicare with free, confidential one-on-one counseling, education, and assistance to understand the complex insurance options available and find the best option to meet their needs. Eligible Medicare beneficiaries include adults with disabilities, who make up approximately 10% of the population (or 72,285 people), and older adults, who make up 18.4% of the population in San Mateo County according to 2023 American Community Services data. Their demographic profile by race and ethnicity is 36% White, 30% Asian, 25% Latino, 6% other race, 2% Black, and 1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders, as reported in the 2024-2028 Area Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the HICAP provider agreement is from April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. The total amount of the agreement is not to exceed $335,000 for the one-year term. The entire amount is expected to come from State and federal funds. Funds for these services will be included in the ADS FY 2025-2026 Recommended Budget.