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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-27-2006-5jORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 27, 2006 Action Agenda Item No. _ 5~__ SUBJECT: Contract Renewal with UNC Hospitals for DSS to Provide Medicaid Workers DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y!N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Contract INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Coston, 245-2802 Gwen Price, 245-2885 PURPOSE: To renew the contract for income maintenance staff at UNC Hospitals. BACKGROUND: The Department of Social Services has had a contract with UNC Hospitals continuously since 1977 to provide Social Services staff at the hospital. All income maintenance positions are funded partially with federal funds. The hospital contract provides reimbursement to Social Services for costs not covered by federal funds. These staff members, income maintenance caseworkers, allow patients at the hospital to apply for Medicaid while at the hospital, The number of caseworkers who have been requested by the hospital has varied. The current contract is for three workers and a part time supervisor far which the hospital is paying $84,267, The hospital is requesting to contract fat only two full-time staff and apart-time supervisor for Fiscal Year 2006-2007, The Social Services Board has reviewed this contract and recommends that it be renewed. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The hospital will reimburse the County for the non-federal share of these positions, so there are na County costs. This is estimated to be $65,418 during Fiscal Year 2006-2007. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board accept the Social Services Board recommendation to approve the renewal contract with UNC Hospitals and authorize the Chair to sign. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF ORANGE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA HOSPITALS AND ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this the i s' day of July, 2006 by and between ORANGE COUNTY (hereinafter referred to as the COUNTY) and THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA HOSPITALS, (hereinafter referred to as UNCH) Orange County, North Carolina. W ITTN ESSETH: WHEREAS, the parties have agreed with each other that the County will provide certain services for The University of North Carolina Hospital s in connection with the Orange County Department of Social Services (hereinafter referred to as OCDSS), Medicaid Program; and WHEREAS, the UNCH has agreed to pay certain compensation for said service and the parties desire to execute this contract to delineate their understanding of this agreement; NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows: 1. Orange County agrees to make available to UNCH the services of two full time Income Maintenance Caseworkers and one part-time supervisor 2, UNCH agrees to reimburse the County within 15 days of receipt of monthly billings for the county share of the salary, benefits, and the indirect costs to which the parties have agreed involved in maintaining two Social Service Income Maintenance Caseworkers at UNCH., UNCH also agrees to reimburse the county for the costs of a part-time supervisor. The county share of these positions is approximately 50 percent. Salary and benefits for income Maintenance Caseworkers and the supervisor include: base salary according to the Orange County pay plan; FICA taxes; local government retirement; vacation, sick, petty, or other leave under approved county plan; paid holidays as observed by county; county paid insurance (health, dental, and life). UNCH will also pay half of the administrative overhead and indirect costs associated with these positions. This includes all other supportive services provided by OCDSS or Orange County. The total costs of this contract is $65,418, 3. Other supportive service provided by OCDSS without additional charge to UNCH include continuing program training of Income Maintenance Caseworkers and consultation with other counties in the catchment area about applications for pre-and post-discharge patients. 4. Other supportive services provided by UNCH without charge to OCDSS include: office space; parking space; office equipment; clerical support; and telephone service.. 5. The Income Maintenance Caseworkers shall receive all potential medical assistance applications originating at UNCH. Specifically the Income Maintenance Caseworker shall pertorm intake functions only, consisting of the following: conducting interviews that initiate an application; obtaining signatures; obtaining documentation available at the time of interview; and forwarding applications to the appropriate count for processing. 6. The Income Maintenance Caseworkers shall be assisted by UNCH staff in obtaining information and documentation required to complete the application process. 7. The Social Services Income Maintenance Caseworkers shall work cooperatively with UNCH staff and the staff of any Department of Social Services to make appropriate referrals of patient and family members with problems not related eligibility determination. 8. As employees of the County, the Income Maintenance Caseworkers shall be directly supervised by and accountable to OCDSS. Due to the nature of this agreement and the working relationship with UNCH, it is necessary that close contact be kept with UNCH administration and certain members of the hospital medical staff, In recognition of this factor, UNCH will name a staff member to act as liaison between the OCDSS, the Income Maintenance Caseworkers, the departments of UNCH and other staff personnel. Assignment of work to the Income Maintenance Caseworkers and coordination sick, vacation, and other leave will be the joint responsibility of this UNCH staff member and the OCDSS supervisor 9, UNCH shall participate in the interviewing and selection process utilized by OCDSS for the hiring of Income Maintenance Caseworkers covered by this agreement, in accordance with County policy and procedures. 10, Both the County and UNCH agree and understand that if at any time UNCH determines that an Income Maintenance Caseworker's performance or professional interactions are inadequate or inappropriate, UNCH may request that OCDSS initiate appropriate action to correct that employee's deficiencies, or to dismiss that employee if indicated. Any disciplinary action shall be pursued in compliance with the Orange County Personnel ordinance and UNCH shall provide sufficient documentation to support that action, 1 i Both the County and UNCH agree and understands the conditions outlined in the Business Associate Agreement. 12. This Agreement shall be effective from July i, 2006 to June 30, 2007. 13, This Agreement shall be reviewed at (east annually, prior to July 1 s~ and may be terminated by either party upon 60 days written notice. 14. The Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties and shall not be altered, amended or modified, except by an agreement in writing executed by the duly authorized officials of both parties, IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this contract to be signed by its duly authorized officials FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: FOR AND ON BEHALF OF ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA HOSPITALS Chair, Orange County Board of Commissioners Executive Director, The University Commissioners of North Carolina Hospitals DA DATE: Attest: Clerk of the Orange County Board of Commissioners This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act Ken Chavious, Orange County Finance Officer