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Health Commission adopts 2015 legislative plans, adds palliative-care and provider-payment language
Summary
The San Francisco Health Commission approved its 2015 state and federal legislative plans with additions to emphasize palliative care and advocacy for adequate Medi-Cal provider payments, and discussed the states upcoming Medicaid 1115 waiver renewal that could mean roughly $200 million annually to the department.
The San Francisco Health Commission voted to approve the Department of Public Healths 2015 state and federal legislative plans, adding two items to the departments priorities: palliative care and stronger language urging restoration or appropriate levels for Medi-Cal provider payments.
Anika Choudhury of the departments Office of Policy and Planning outlined the plans as a framework that, once approved by the commission, will be transmitted to the mayors office and used to guide the citys legislative and advocacy work. Choudhury said the plans emphasize implementation of the Affordable Care Act, sustaining the safety net, communicable-disease control, integrated behavioral health and finding funding streams for supportive housing.
A central focus of the discussion was the states Medicaid 1115 waiver renewal, which Choudhury said is "worth about $200,000,000 a year annually to the department." Commissioners and staff described an internal waiver working group that meets regularly with the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems to protect funding for San Francisco General Hospital and to shape performance metrics.
Dean Alon of the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium urged commissioners to press on the coming community health centers funding cliff, warning that federal cuts could reduce center funding substantially and asking the commission to support campaigns against reductions.
Commissioners asked whether items listed as "watch" on the plan represented formal positions; Choudhury said "watch" items are monitored while the city takes official positions through the mayors office. Commissioners also pressed staff about contingencies if waiver provisions include unfunded mandates.
During discussion Commissioner Sanchez proposed, and the commission accepted, adding palliative care and more explicit advocacy for appropriate Medi-Cal provider payment levels to the departments plan. The commission approved the modified resolution by voice vote.
The department will revise the plan to include the additions and resubmit it as part of the mayoral review process; staff said they would provide the edited document to the commission before onward transmission.
