[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6648193,"mediaKeyId","3406746-e031331facda3c1a8e849e0fb31bfac4","parentId",3406746,"title","Board votes to begin transition toward single county Medi‑Cal plan, changes Family Health Plan governance","audioSeconds",2465,"startMs",10711000,"endMs",13176000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3406746-e031331facda3c1a8e849e0fb31bfac4&start=10711&end=13176","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3406746-e031331facda3c1a8e849e0fb31bfac4/thumbnail_10711000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6648193/Santa-Clara-County/California/Board-votes-to-begin-transition-toward-single-county-MediCal-plan-changes-Family-Health-Plan-governance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648193-60223f23b8e1ad65faf6414730715c12/orig.mp4?Expires=1775598767&Signature=ZyOkco~0FQHstFQFvrWpkjLJ15YoGg~Bb3S6If3o2acswvzP8VclFzhaixonu-tj9DFTqjE0Jwq1Mps3m07G6-~bbXdCXV-BhU0HKqKAi13edaHNBh4mw7JNnf80iC6TDZX7MR-k6TfuXppUMNemVBSMO7RIwN42lF8mu75vResvMy257AUaiaIss9aDhF~ZxYYo6wNElsVf2LI3BvsxMxQmf4erRhXXUTpKFUnJ1bmfZnz-vJYDev~MgfQ34J2ITV0kweYu4D1FHE8GXzKZuu4TCgB8VJCcUEdxU8zQo5wIQp7pRt~rALuaenUx7rcHRmh2H63ebsdfRbaYHpknDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Santa Clara County","date","2025-05-20T09:30:00Z","article","The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on May 20 to direct county staff to begin a multi‑step process to transition toward a single county‑owned Medi‑Cal managed care plan and to change the Santa Clara County Health Authority’s governance structure.

Why it matters: County leaders said the move is aimed at protecting the county’s safety‑net hospitals, clinics and community providers from looming state and federal changes to Medicaid funding and to reduce administrative fragmentation they said is limiting the county’s ability to maximize reimbursement for patient care.

The board’s action followed a lengthy staff briefing and more than two hours of public comment from physicians, clinic and hospital executives, union representatives, and community leaders. County Executive James Williams framed the proposal as a structural response to a shifting federal and state policy landscape that may reduce Medicaid-related revenues and enrollment. Williams told the board the current multiple‑plan structure creates administrative inefficiencies and leaves county providers exposed to revenue shortfalls.

The package approved by supervisors includes a set of near‑term governance changes to the Santa Clara County Health Authority (also known as Santa Clara Family Health Plan, or FHP) and direction for county staff to pursue state regulatory approvals needed to establish a “single plan” model in which a unified, county‑operated plan would coordinate Medi‑Cal services and rate advocacy across the local safety‑net.

President Lee, who moved the motion, said the action is not intended to change beneficiaries’ coverage, provider networks, or current contracts, and emphasized the board’s intent to center patients and community providers. “There is nothing in the actions in front of the board that would change anyone’s Medi‑Cal benefits or any payments that beneficiaries make,” Lee said during the meeting. The board accepted a friendly amendment to add three interim seats to the temporary governing board drawn from names recommended by the current FHP board to preserve institutional knowledge and community voice while the transition proceeds.

Supporters at the meeting included hospital physicians and hospital leadership who said current plan fragmentation creates delays and denials for specialists, elective procedures and medications. “This model is confusing to our providers and our patients, and it has created unintended barriers to care,” said Dr. Dolly Goyle, who described clinical leadership roles spanning the county system. Labor representatives for county health plan employees also supported the board’s action, saying a unified model would bolster the county safety net in the face of federal and state changes.

Opponents urged more public process and engagement before making sweeping governance changes. Christine Tomkala, chief executive of Santa Clara Family Health Plan, urged more collaboration and warned that the proposal risked undermining trust and community input if carried out precipitously. Several resident advisory members and community organizations asked the board to delay action and preserve community representation on any new board.

Vote and next steps: The board voted 5–0 to approve the staff recommendations. The motion calls on administration to begin the multi‑stage process (including county code changes and state regulatory work) required to create a single, county‑owned Medi‑Cal plan and to establish a temporary governing board and a transitional advisory committee. The county said no immediate changes will be made to beneficiaries’ coverage, provider networks or existing contracts; any consolidation will follow state approvals and a deliberate implementation process. The board also directed administration to engage community stakeholders and to return with milestones and updates as the transition proceeds.

Ending: Supervisors said they will keep the process public and asked staff to bring regular updates as regulatory steps and technical analyses proceed. The board emphasized that its priority is sustaining access to care for Medi‑Cal beneficiaries and stabilizing revenue flows to the county’s hospitals and safety‑net clinics.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors May 20 , 2025 9:30 a.m.","oneSentenceSummary","The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on May 20 to direct county staff to begin a multi‑step transition toward a single county‑operated Medi‑Cal managed care plan and to change governance of the Santa Clara County Health Authority (Santa Clara Family Health Plan).","taxTitle","Santa Clara County, California","taxId",2855,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648179,"Board approves adding new Valley Homeless Healthcare Program clinic site in San Jose",533,4972000,5505000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3406746-e031331facda3c1a8e849e0fb31bfac4&start=4972&end=5505","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3406746-e031331facda3c1a8e849e0fb31bfac4/thumbnail_4972000.jpg","/articles/6648179/Santa-Clara-County/California/Board-approves-adding-new-Valley-Homeless-Healthcare-Program-clinic-site-in-San-Jose","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648179-b5a90d816e11a3288dcedb4f8111e0aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1775598767&Signature=UrAttkVG4VqrnAY~11NKfQg23Z4vAabRP7jyVE7XhzNZaYF8Bqn3BtRACPHI6Ny2awtfGTVK02oPHcpkhezT-m7FCtWO-yT1KBU44OZWTg3HCAVxWbad6Lc1h4Bloh0l~c2YAB69yy52qKNdwxaVf6iJCipLoe3XnskDZ4sU2sXKMkJ793Jy7KR67oh~cNRTdn1ahaTIfAvB~C2~0MhqjE~M1t2L1Y-b4ZiMMXovXXCeUa8tlUyFU1evOtGXgPCeQt43T967ToRTuzxN~QQR0j-jbDSEw-XQ-z2IbsqVEiStI2Ua9yXrEz7jTl0OBLcxu1i0-ao5tduqzaw38-Y8KA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a change in scope for the Valley Homeless Healthcare Program (VHHP) on May 20 that will add a new fixed clinic site in San Jose.

Why it matters: VHHP provides primary and outreach medical care to people experiencing homelessness. Staff said the new Valley Health Center San Jose (1410 South Bascom Avenue) will relieve crowding at the current clinic and supplement mobile and backpack‑medicine services used to reach people who remain unsheltered.

Staff presentation: Saline Hall, director of VHHP, and Christy Rells, assistant nurse manager, described the change in scope required by HRSA to add the new comprehensive primary care site. Hall said the new VHC San Jose will provide a full spectrum of clinical services and is expected to open in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026. Hall emphasized VHHP will continue mobile medical, backpack medicine and outreach to encampments to reach people who do not come to fixed clinics; staff also said community outreach specialists can provide transportation and navigation to clinic appointments when needed.

Board discussion: Supervisors asked about referral and transportation processes, how many VHHP patients become established at fixed sites versus being served solely by outreach teams, and data collection plans to track transitions to fixed‑site care. Staff said some patients are paneled to fixed clinic medical homes while others refuse fixed‑site care and are best served by field teams; staff agreed to return with data on transitions over time.

Vote and next steps: The board approved the change in scope and the staff recommendation, 5–0. Staff said they will open the site in Q1 FY2026 and continue outreach services, transportation assistance and coordination with Valley Medical Center for referrals requiring imaging or specialty services.

Ending: Supervisors thanked VHHP staff for the program and asked for periodic updates on how the new site affects outreach and clinic utilization.","Supervisors approved a change in scope to add Valley Health Center San Jose (1410 S. Bascom Avenue) to the Valley Homeless Healthcare Program’s HRSA scope; staff said the new fixed site will open in fiscal Q1 2026 and relieve overcrowding at the current Bascom clinic.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648184,"Board backs expansion of wildfire‑detection sensor pilot, directs faster deployment and partner outreach",906,5694000,6600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3406746-e031331facda3c1a8e849e0fb31bfac4&start=5694&end=6600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3406746-e031331facda3c1a8e849e0fb31bfac4/thumbnail_5694000.jpg","/articles/6648184/Santa-Clara-County/California/Board-backs-expansion-of-wildfiredetection-sensor-pilot-directs-faster-deployment-and-partner-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648184-2f6e798d54c50f254080a5ba07a46cf5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775598767&Signature=Dk0ldacuExUVUbO4OjGHXre3H0U0TDbbb1iQExG96X6t6m7q8rAxxzdkXOqnNGZqExNIDA5frAO~ZQjs-pPC3L2ogN0aWSJhb4we0qt0HBUfl~SHeuWDNiwvHkym8X3LhkEyBPLonJB7GuQdQfqBBlebFk3m7-RzCgWAXYLHeESJZyG6Fu-l~Jjphy2PItMrTSo1xghDcmIsYMpMgvTwAXkNA5Q~5YVMTDIbO1yWPAJuJZnSq6zeEGPTNBnYATdW7z7i4ClBNbvGGhaMkaqcHhfmDi5JWt-ZJzHOOpFFcXLUaJQQH51dQ10kQC5crVJDNBqp8d~Tp~sWImIPQGAr0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion on May 20 to proceed with an expanded wildfire detection sensor pilot and to accelerate initial deployments in high‑risk parts of the county.

Why it matters: County staff described a multi‑agency pilot to deploy air‑ and smoke‑sensing devices across the wildland‑urban interface to detect fires earlier than camera systems alone. Early detection can reduce response times, protect property, and limit public‑health impacts from wildfire smoke.

What staff recommended: Deputy County Executive John Mills and county parks and fire officials presented a plan for an initial deployment of networked AI‑enabled sensors and described the sensors’ complementary role to existing camera systems. The staff report proposed a pilot with staged deployments and an evaluation plan.

Board action: President Lee moved that the county move forward more aggressively than staff initially proposed—calling for a first‑phase goal of 50 sensors (rather than the staff’s smaller initial package), prioritizing South and East County locations with little current coverage, and instructing administration to reach out to private landowners and partners to obtain placement access. The motion was seconded and approved 5–0. Supervisors asked that staff report back to the Board’s Hewlett (policy) committee with regular updates beginning early this fall and that the county welcome other regional partners, including the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency, to participate.

Partner testimony: Representatives from San Jose Water, the Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council, the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter, Santa Clara County Parks, and county fire officials described technical performance, site selection, and public‑health reasons to pilot sensors now. John Tang of San Jose Water offered to host site tours and described existing sensor deployments on watershed lands.

Implementation and timing: Staff said sensors are simple to install (install times cited from field partners ranged from 30 minutes to an hour per unit), and noted that some sites can separate barbeque smoke from wildfire smoke using AI detection. The board urged staff to prioritize deployment in unserved high‑risk areas before the next fire season where feasible and to coordinate access with private landowners and agencies.

Ending: The board emphasized rapid, transparent progress and asked for periodic status briefings to the policy committee as the pilot proceeds.","Supervisors directed county administration to expand a wildfire detection sensor pilot—approving a larger initial deployment target and requiring progress updates—after staff described a multi‑agency pilot and local partners urged rapid action.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648188,"Board approves five Measure A‑funded housing projects; county reports progress on 6,300‑unit bond",613,6785000,7398000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3406746-e031331facda3c1a8e849e0fb31bfac4&start=6785&end=7398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3406746-e031331facda3c1a8e849e0fb31bfac4/thumbnail_6785000.jpg","/articles/6648188/Santa-Clara-County/California/Board-approves-five-Measure-Afunded-housing-projects-county-reports-progress-on-6300unit-bond","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648188-3e4e5591bb5e3e53987db5a7ad790c23/orig.mp4?Expires=1775598767&Signature=NVUiB3tCZGPoaRjhqVy6R-A2uHDEa8yN5CKc3~pd1oik~2slyQKLDXa5Nif~j7iX40v6StNEUfWBZKYG~90b3XPUGcyYDD5YS-V2~ydQmPBZJX8dbCcdScoFxwL6GNjIBBM-bIRCWFM6EdCimFW3SM2Wir2w3ki4PWD6GtcVNq3z95eev7O4ml77DZMQvfsbDlSj7R~8Tb31HHYvosmGHxLo7QK0l-5cGwj~wn8faMHkYtspS5kxYN6yivODAZI3Y3LvP~LfBoTwY7daYKJwcpiK-DbFTKnQGFVhYBFw5Xa4JKeJPKj2pvWCrwIx4IsO9aTws1XDbRgQguH5x5DDCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted to approve five Measure A housing projects on May 20 and received a detailed progress report on the 2016 Measure A housing bond’s implementation.

Why it matters: Measure A is the county’s $950 million 2016 housing bond. Board materials said the program has been the county’s principal tool to expand permanent supportive and deeply affordable housing since 2016 and has leveraged substantial state, federal and private funds to build, renovate and preserve thousands of units.

What the board approved: Administration asked the supervisors to fund four multifamily rental developments that together will yield 576 new permanently affordable units (including permanent supportive housing set‑asides) and one affordable homeownership townhouse project. Staff said approvals would bring the county’s Measure A approvals to roughly $714 million toward 61 projects in 11 cities, representing more than 6,300 housing bond‑funded units in total, with about 2,500 units set aside for people with histories of homelessness.

Staff presentation and context: Deputy County Executive Consuelo Hernandez and Office of Supportive Housing leaders described the bond’s origin and the multi‑year pipeline. Staff noted that progress has been substantial — more than 2,700 units in operation and about 1,100 units under construction — but that remaining delivery faces risks. Key risks listed in the report included uncertainty in federal and state funding sources, competition for tax credits, high construction costs, insurance and labor pressures, and the time required to obtain entitlements and finance deals. Staff described their three strategies to accelerate delivery: actively applying for additional funding, partnering with local agencies to coordinate funding and approvals, and helping developers make stronger funding applications.

Public comment and partner remarks: Developers, nonprofit housing advocates and service providers told the board Measure A has delivered tangible results and urged continued investment. Speakers included MidPen Housing, Eden Housing, Destination Home, Housing Trust Silicon Valley, and several developers and social‑services providers who highlighted existing Measure A projects that will serve seniors, families, veterans and formerly unhoused people.

Vote and next steps: The board approved the five projects and the staff recommendations by voice vote with no recorded no votes; the motion carried 5–0. Staff said they will continue to pursue tax credits and soft financing, partner with VTA and cities on transit‑oriented developments, and report back on risks and progress in future implementation reports.

Ending: Supervisors thanked the many nonprofit and private partners and urged continued advocacy for state and federal funding programs that help leverage limited local dollars for affordable housing production.","Supervisors approved four multifamily rental and one affordable‑homeownership projects drawn from the 2016 Measure A housing bond, advancing roughly 576 units and updating the board on progress, risks and pipeline numbers for the county's housing bond program.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board votes to begin transition toward single county Medi‑Cal plan, changes Family Health Plan governance

Board approves adding new Valley Homeless Healthcare Program clinic site in San Jose

Board backs expansion of wildfire‑detection sensor pilot, directs faster deployment and partner outreach

Board approves five Measure A‑funded housing projects; county reports progress on 6,300‑unit bond