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County health updates: behavioral health resolves state corrective action; public health funding cuts threaten projects; board approves CMSP grant support
Summary
Behavioral Health said it resolved a state corrective action plan for mobile crisis and expects a July 1 Medi-Cal go-live; Public Health reported federal COVID-era funding cuts affecting a community health barn and a remodel. The board also approved a time-sensitive letter supporting a County Medical Services Program workforce grant.
Behavioral Health and Public Health department leaders briefed the Sierra County Board of Supervisors on program milestones and federal funding risks, and the board approved a time-sensitive letter supporting a County Medical Services Program (CMSP) grant application.
Cheryl Prince McMillan, director of Behavioral Health, told the board the department had resolved a corrective action plan (CAP) from the California Department of Health Care Services tied to mobile crisis response. "We just did all the things they ask of us and now that's done and we move along," Prince McMillan said, adding that the county’s approach relies on limited on-call coverage at present. She said the county will present its experience to other counties on April 8.
Prince McMillan also reported the department has been approved to move forward with its Medi-Cal implementation plan; she said a formal contract is expected within a month and a tentative July 1 go-live date would allow the county to bill Medi-Cal for eligible services.
Rhonda Granity, assistant director of Public Health, reported federal cuts to epidemiology laboratory capacity (ELC) and COVID-19 immunization funding are affecting two local projects: a community health barn scheduled for summer delivery and a small public-health remodel contribution. Granity said fiscal staff and the state reapplication process are under way; several states have filed lawsuits seeking to block the funding cuts.
On a related procedural item, the board approved an emergency addition to the agenda and unanimously adopted a letter of support requested by the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) for the County Medical Services Program’s healthcare workforce grant application. The letter was time-sensitive and brought to the board after the agenda closed; the board approved adding it as an emergency item and then approved the letter.
No formal actions were taken now on Medi-Cal contracts; Prince McMillan said the contract will be brought to the board for approval when finalized.
