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Mariposa health agency to spend nearly $2 million on North County facility, telemedicine bid
Summary
The county’s Health and Human Services Agency presented two grant steps: acceptance of a $983,625 capital award from Central California Alliance for Health for North County office improvements, and application for a USDA telemedicine grant of $937,363.57 with a required county match of $122,264.81.
The Mariposa County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday it aims to open a permanent North County office with services mirroring the main office and to expand telemedicine capacity.
Christina Kahele, HHSA director, described two items on the consent calendar: acceptance of a $983,625 capital award from Central California Alliance for Health to support improvements at the North County building, and authorization to apply for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant for $937,363.57, with a local match commitment of $122,264.81 if awarded. Kahele said the county already owns the building in Greeley Hill and needs capital and technology upgrades before it can open staff offices there.
‘‘Everything we do at HHSA essentially here will be done in North County as well,’’ Kahele said, adding the agency plans to provide behavioral health services, a clinic room for small public-health procedures, eligibility services for benefits and child-welfare functions. She said the North County office will be staffed five days a week and will include space for partner services.
Supervisor John Poe praised the work and asked for a timeline; Kahele said staff hope to open the facility ‘‘within the next year,’’ but said contractor availability and construction scheduling could affect the date. The USDA telemedicine grant would fund equipment to enable clinicians in Mariposa to provide care in both South and North County during the same day using telemedicine links, she said.
Board members commended HHSA for moving services closer to remote residents. The two items were on the consent agenda and approved by the board as part of the consent motion on a 5-0 vote; CA 7 (the December bills listing) was removed and will return as a presentation at a later date.
Ending: HHSA will return with construction and opening updates; the board approved acceptance and application authority as part of the consent approval.
