HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD-2014-009 Ordinance approving Budget Amendment #5-A for Fiscal Year 2013-14 Plan for Use of Enhanced Medicaid Administration Funds ORD-2014-009
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 18, 2014
Action Agenda
Item No. 5-c
SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2013-14 Budget Amendment#5-A--- Plan for Use of Enhanced
Medicaid Administration Funds
DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) L No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nancy Coston, 919-245-2800
PURPOSE: To consider the plan from the Department of Social Services (DSS) to utilize
enhanced reimbursements for Medicaid administration for Fiscal Year 2013-2014, including
consideration of Budget Amendment #5-A and a request for time-limited staff, additional
tech nologylcomputer equipment, staff overtime and building changes.
BACKGROUND: All county departments of social services can now access enhanced
reimbursements for costs related to the administration of Medicaid and related health benefits.
Currently federal funds reimburse 50% of these costs, but after February 1, 2014, federal funds
will reimburse 75% of the costs to complete eligibility for Medicaid using NCFAST. Based on
the current reimbursements for Medicaid administration, this will increase DSS revenue for this
fiscal v ear by approximately $180,000. This enhanced funding is not time-limited and will
continue next fiscal year.
To receive these funds, local agencies must provide a plan to the state outlining how these
enhanced funds will be reinvested into the public assistance programs. The goal of this
reinvestment is to assure that counties meet all the performance goals for issuance of Medicaid,
Food and Nutrition and Work First benefits. The need for additional resources is related to the
transition to NCFAST and to new requirements related to the Affordable Care Act. Although
Orange County DSS has performed as well as most counties in this transition, employees are
constantly struggling to stay current on cases while learning new procedures.
The Orange County DSS recommends that these funds be used to fund some one--time
com p uter enhancements and capital improvements as well 'as some ongoing staff costs.
Specifically the agency is requesting to create one additional time-limited human services
� v
specialist through June 30, 2015 and to extend the existing three time-limited human services
,
s ecialists expiring June 30, 2014, through June 30, 2015. The agency has also been
P p
2
overspending the agency overtime fund and is requesting to increase these funds to support the
staff who have been working at night and on weekends. The total for these staff changes in
Fiscal Year 2013 -2014 is approximately $100,000.
In the current budget, funds were requested to make modifications to both Southern Human
Services and Hillsborough Commons to develop self - service resource rooms. Although this was
approved in the budget, the quotes for these changes are higher than the originally budgeted
amount. The agency is requesting to use $20,000 of these funds to add to the budgeted
amount to create resource rooms in the lobby at each site.
The agency is also requesting computers, including some laptops, to allow staff to work at
homes and at outpost sites. In addition some funds are requested to help equip the resource
rooms and to equip the training room, given the ongoing need to train staff on NCFAST. Some
additional printers and scanners are also needed to increase staff efficiency. The total for all of
these items is anticipated to be below $40,000.
The staff at DSS believes that this plan will help the agency meet the expectations in the public
assistance programs and meet the state's requirements for a plan.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: This plan utilizes additional revenue available to DSS for eligibility
processing and will not require additional County funds in Fiscal Year 2014 or Fiscal Year 2015.
The only requirement at this time is a County plan for reinvesting the funds to assure that DSS
meets the processing standards for Medicaid, Work First and Food and Nutrition while
implementing NCFAST.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the plan from
DSS, approve Budget Amendment #5 -A for the additional Medicaid revenue of $160,000,
establish one (1) time - limited Human Services Specialist effective February 18, 2014 through
June 30, 2015, extend three (3) existing time limited Human Services Specialists through June
30, 2015, fund capital for additional computer /technology and building changes and fund
additional overtime at DSS.
3. Additional commemorative item design and construction for any County owned
facility (such as a time capsule or other archival element) shall be directed at the
discretion of the Board of County Commissioners.
A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Price to
approve her substitute commemorative plaque policy, as stated on the peach sheet.
Commissioner McKee made a friendly amendment to propose using the county seal
instead of the county logo and Commissioner Gordon accepted.
VOTE: 6 -1 (Commissioner Rich)
a. Minutes
The Board approved the minutes from November 25 and December 10, 2013 as submitted by
the Clerk to the Board.
b. Fiscal Year 2013 -14 Budget Amendment #5
The Board approved budget and capital project ordinance amendments for fiscal year 2013 -14
for the Department on the Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation; Department of
Social Services; and Department on Aging.
c. Fiscal Year 2013 -14 Budget Amendment #5 -A— Plan for Use of Enhanced Medicaid
Administration Funds
The Board approved the plan from the Department of Social Services (DSS) to utilize enhanced
reimbursements for Medicaid administration for Fiscal Year 2013 -2014, including consideration
of Budget Amendment #5 -A and a request for time - limited staff, additional technology /computer
equipment, staff overtime and building changes.
d. Approval of Expanded Cane Creek Fire Insurance District Map
The Board approved the Cane Creek Fire Insurance District Map which has been expanded to
include properties within six (6) road miles of Orange Grove Volunteer Fire Company Station 3.
e. Southern Library Site Selection Due Diligence Process Update — Butler Property Due
Diligence Agreement
The Board considered the Due Diligence Authorization Agreement between Orange County and
Main Street Properties of Chapel Hill, LLC; and authorized the Chair to sign pending final
approval by the County Attorney.
f. Changes in BOCC Regular Meeting Schedule for 2014
The Board approved the following two changes in the County Commissioners' regular meeting
calendar for 2014:
- Changing the official meeting start time of the BOCC's March 18, 2014 regular meeting
from 7:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the same location at the Southern Human Services Center
in Chapel Hill, NC.
- Changing the official meeting start time of the BOCC's April 1, 2014 regular meeting
from 7:00 pm to 6:00 pm, at the same location at the DSS Offices, Hillsborough
Commons, Hillsborough.
h. Award of Weekly Urban Curbside Recycling Service Agreement
The Board. awarded a service agreement to Waste Industries, LLC for the provision of
weekly curbside recycling services within the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough
to be managed by Orange County Solid Waste Management and authorized the Chair to sign.
7. Regular Agenda