Action 8.
Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting
Health & Social Services
- Meeting Date:
- 09/25/2012
- Title:
- IGA #YH13-0002, Enrollment Suspension of AHCCCS Eligibility for Jail Inmates
- Submitted By:
- Jennifer Steiger, Health & Social Services
- Department:
- Health & Social Services
Presentation:
No A/V Presentation
Recommendation:
Approve
Document Signatures:
BOS Signature Required
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
2
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Ray Falkenberg
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Administrative Services Manager
Mandated Function?:
Not Mandated
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
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Information
Agenda Item Text:
Approve the new IGA #YH13-0002, Enrollment Suspension of AHCCCS Eligibility for Jail Inmates, between the Arizona Healthcare Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and Cochise County, for the period from 10/1/12 to 9/30/17; however, the agreement may be terminated by either party with thirty days written notice.
Background:
When an AHCCCS member is jailed, that member’s AHCCCS coverage is automatically terminated. Since 2007, Cochise County has had an IGA with AHCCCS that allows the (re)enrollment of AHCCCS-eligible inmates if they are admitted to a hospital as inpatients. This arrangement has so far saved the county a total of $93,000 net of administrative costs.
Beginning on 7/1/11, due to state cuts to the AHCCCS program, childless adults became ineligible for AHCCCS benefits. Such members’ AHCCCS benefits are grandfathered as long as they are not dropped from AHCCCS roles. The vast majority of the county’s AHCCCS-eligible jail inmates are childless adults. Since they are ineligible for re-enrollment in AHCCCS after their coverage is terminated upon booking into the jail, the county no longer benefits from our existing IGA for such inmates. This resulted in additional costs to the county of at least $25,000 during FY 11/12.
Under the terms of the proposed suspension IGA, inmates’ AHCCCS coverage would not be terminated upon booking into the jail, but instead merely suspended. This will allow their coverage to be reinstated without re-enrollment in AHCCCS. In this fashion, Cochise County should again be able to obtain coverage for AHCCCS members who are admitted to hospitals as inpatients.
Beginning on 7/1/11, due to state cuts to the AHCCCS program, childless adults became ineligible for AHCCCS benefits. Such members’ AHCCCS benefits are grandfathered as long as they are not dropped from AHCCCS roles. The vast majority of the county’s AHCCCS-eligible jail inmates are childless adults. Since they are ineligible for re-enrollment in AHCCCS after their coverage is terminated upon booking into the jail, the county no longer benefits from our existing IGA for such inmates. This resulted in additional costs to the county of at least $25,000 during FY 11/12.
Under the terms of the proposed suspension IGA, inmates’ AHCCCS coverage would not be terminated upon booking into the jail, but instead merely suspended. This will allow their coverage to be reinstated without re-enrollment in AHCCCS. In this fashion, Cochise County should again be able to obtain coverage for AHCCCS members who are admitted to hospitals as inpatients.
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
Your approval is respectfully requested.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
Not approving this IGA could materially boost detainee medical expenses paid by the County general fund.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
A fully executed original will be sent to the Clerk of the Board for filing purposes.
Fiscal Impact
- Fiscal Year:
- 2012-2013
- One-time Fixed Costs? ($$$):
- 0
- Ongoing Costs? ($$$):
- 0
- County Match Required? ($$$):
- 0
- A-87 Overhead Amt? (Co. Cost Allocation $$$):
- 0
- Source of Funding?:
- n/a
Fiscal Impact & Funding Sources (if known):
Had this agreement been in effect in FY 11/12, Cochise County could have saved at least $25,000. There are modest reporting requirements that can be effectively managed by existing jail and IT support staff.