Title
Requesting Budget Authority for New Health Home Budgets.
Body
Recommended Action: Approve the transfer of budget authority for COMCARE Health Homes and Primary Care Integration Programs
Background: The BOCC approved positions for COMCARE Health Home activities on July 2, 2014. COMCARE is requesting the transfer of existing budget authority from other budgets within COMCARE's revenue fund to establish four new budgets for this calendar year to fund the approved positions as well as associated expenditures: Chronic Condition Health Homes (31100-252); SMI Health Homes (31101-252); Health Homes Administration (31099-252); and Behavioral Health/Primary Care Integration (31102-252). A total amount of $1,335,597.00 will be transferred for estimated expenditures from July 2014 to December 2014. The establishment of the four new fund centers could impact the 2015 budget. If the Commission takes the recommeded action, this approval will serve as consent to transfer existing budget authority to the above-mentioned budgets in 2015.
These budget transfers include one-time startup costs for health home activities and include staff salaries and operational expenditures associated with the program. Health Home positions were those previously vacant due to changing caseload demands that are being repurposed for this program. During 2014 budget development, specific reductions related to changes in Medicaid Managed Care and KanCare were unclear. Anticipating reductions, Community Support Services and Children's Services affiliate billing, which process payments to providers, expenditures were reduced in the 2014 budget. As additional information is learned about KanCare, reductions in affiliate billing are even greater than expected, allowing budget authority to be transferred to Health Homes and Primary Care Integration. Funds are being transferred from Community Support Services (31068-252) and Children's Services (31064-252). The affected transferred funds represent 2.6% of COMCARE's 2014 adopted budget. Affiliate billing charges have been aligned for the 2015 budget.
Alternatives: Health Homes are care management activities that help patients who have complex medical, behavioral and chronic conditions. COMCARE is committed to provide Health Home activities to better coordinate patients overall care needs. COMCARE will also work with GraceMed to implement an integrated primary care co-location site in our adult program. Without the establishment of new budgets, COMCARE will be unable to fund the Health Home activities and will not be able to implement the necessary programs.
Financial Considerations:
Expenditures: $1,335,597
Term: July 2014 to December 2014
Budget Authority Adjustment: Sufficient budget authority is included in the 2014 budget, no additional budget authority is requested.
Legal Considerations: The authority of this action is K.S.A. 39-1801, et seq A simple majority vote is required.
Policy Considerations: All Sedgwick County policies have been followed in the development of consent item.