Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Lisa Mancini, Director, Aging and Adult Services
Subject: In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Combined Rate Update
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Acting as the Governing Board of the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority of the County of San Mateo, adopt a resolution authorizing a change in the Public Authority health benefits rate and submission of the resolution to the California Department of Social Services.
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BACKGROUND:
In September 1993, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors established a Public Authority (PA) to administer the provider components of the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. Pursuant to CA Welfare & Institutions Code section 12301.6(b)(3), the ordinance designated the Board of Supervisors as the Governing Board of the PA.
The costs of operating the PA include Independent Provider (IP) wages, payroll taxes, health benefits, non-health-related benefits, and administrative costs. The PA rate reflects the hourly cost of operating each component of services provided to an individual IHSS recipient. Each county in California is required to report its PA rate to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). As of January 1, 2020, San Mateo County reported a rate of $16.93 per hour.
These rates are used by CDSS to calculate Statewide and county-by-county cost estimates for the IHSS and PA programs. Accurately projecting and updating these rates is essential for ensuring sufficient State funds to cover the County’s IHSS and PA costs.
DISCUSSION:
The PA is requesting permission to report an increase in its health benefits rate from $0.90 to $1.00, and therefore, an increase of $0.10 in the total combined rate from $16.93 to $17.03. There are no changes to the other components of the combined PA rate.
The increase in the health benefits rate is due to the increase in premiums for health benefits for IHSS providers, which was approved by the Board on December 3, 2019, and became effective on January 1, 2020.
CDSS must approve all PA rate changes not due to State minimum wage increases before they are incorporated into the State’s estimates. CDSS requires certification from the County that the Governing Board has directed and authorized a change to the combined PA rate.
Authorization of this resolution and its submission to CDSS will complete the process to change the PA rate from $16.93 to $17.03 per hour.
The requested effective date for this new rate is April 1, 2020, and this rate will be effective until the submission of the next rate change.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
The PA rate update ensures that the PA is providing the most accurate cost estimates to the State to allow the County and the PA to continue providing IHSS services and to receive as much funding from the state and federal government as possible. When counties exceed their previously reported rates, the State refuses to reimburse the County beyond that rate and federal funds also become unavailable.
It is anticipated that 5,944 clients will be served by the IHSS program.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2019-20 Estimated |
FY 2020-21 Projected |
|
Number of clients served by the IHSS program |
5,661 clients |
5,944 clients |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The rate change will be effective April 1, 2020 upon approval from the State and will remain in effect until a subsequent rate change supersedes it. There is no impact to Net County Cost from reporting a higher PA rate.