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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 6-b - Letter to North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Expressing a Regional Preference for Medicaid Tailored Plans 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 16, 2019 Action Agenda Item No. 6-b SUBJECT: Letter to North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Expressing a Regional Preference for Medicaid Tailored Plans DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Draft Language for Proposed Letter Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager 919-245-2308 PURPOSE: To authorize the Chair to sign a letter to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners expressing Orange County's preference to align its Medicaid Tailored Plan Region with Durham and Wake counties. BACKGROUND: In February 2019, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners was asked by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to assist with phase two of Medicaid transformation by coordinating and facilitating a process to develop recommended regions for Tailored Plans. The Association has organized a committee to coordinate recommendations. The Committee consists of county commissioner representatives from each Managed Care Organization (MCO) region. This Committee has invited stakeholder input on the composition of Tailored Plan regions. The deadline to provide input is April 17, 2019. At the April 2, 2019 regular Board meeting, a petition was made requesting that the County communicate Orange County's preference to be part of a Tailored Plan region that also includes Durham and Wake counties. Staff has attached draft language for a proposed letter addressing that interest. It is proposed that the Board formally authorize the Chair, on behalf of the Board, to sign a letter expressing the County's preference, and that the Clerk to the Board submit the letter before the April 17 deadline. FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial impact is associated with authorizing the Chair to sign the communication. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable to this item: • FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND INEQUITY The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color; religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or 2 ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic status. • ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their dependents. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize the Chair to sign a letter to the Committee recommending the composition of Tailored Plan Regions that communicates Orange County's preference to be in a Region that includes Durham and Wake counties, and that the Clerk to the Board submit the letter before the April 17 deadline. 3 Draft Language for Proposed Letter April 16, 2019 TO: Commissioners Beale and Graham Co-Chairs of Tailored Plan Region Development Committee FROM: Board of Orange County Commissioners RE: Preference for Tailored Plan Region Thank you for the opportunity to provide input into the Phase II of Medicaid Transformation and the process to recommend the composition of regions for Tailored Plans. The Board of Orange County Commissioners has considered its preference for a Tailored Plan region, and we believe the most effective system would connect Orange County with the other counties in the Research Triangle, namely Durham and Wake Counties. From a service perspective, Orange County shares a regional transportation system, a regional workforce, and a network of providers with Durham and Wake Counties. Orange County conducted a study of the provider network available to residents with behavioral health needs, and many providers used by Orange County residents are located in Durham County. Other non-profit providers also serve residents from Orange, Durham, and Wake Counties. A good example of that is CASA which operates in Durham, Wake and Orange counties to provide housing for people with mental illness. Their operations and client access would be more efficient if Orange County were grouped with Durham and Wake counties. In the interest of the residents we serve, the Board of Orange County Commissioners is requesting to become a part of a Tailored Plan region that includes Durham and Wake Counties. Connecting these counties would provide greater access, more varied services, and better public transportation opportunities than any other alignment. Thank you again for this opportunity to provide input into the Tailored Plan regions. If we can provide any additional information, please contact our County Manager's Office.