Approve California Children's Services Medical Therapy Program (CCS-MTP) Plan for 2023-2024. (No general fund impact) (Sullivan)

The system of Care Division (SCD) within the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) oversees programs dedicated to individuals with special health care needs, specifically focusing on vulnerable children and adults. This includes the Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Programs, which encompass the California Children's Services (CCS) and Child Health Disability and Prevention (CHDP) Programs. The CCS program involves the administration of the Medical Therapy Program (MTP). For the Fiscal Year 23-24, DHCS requested that the County’s local CCS and MTP submit the Annual Plan separately from the CHDP program, a departure from previous practices. This submission includes local CCS and MTP program budgets and staffing documents. Submission of the CCS and MTP Annual Plan is contingent upon DHCS releasing program allocations and Plan and Fiscal Guidelines, which were provided on October 26, 2023, for FY23-24.

The CCS Program offers diagnostic and treatment services, medical case management, and physical and occupational therapy to children under 21 with CCS-eligible medical conditions. Yolo County CCS ensures that children with medically eligible conditions receive necessary and appropriate health care, covering a range of conditions such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, cerebral palsy, heart disease, cancer, traumatic injuries, and infectious diseases producing significant sequelae.

Starting January 1, 2019, Yolo County CCS implemented Senate Bill 586, allowing DHCS to introduce changes to provide health care coordination for Medi-Cal CCS clients with all medical conditions through the Whole Child Model (WCM). While managed care coordination for CCS Medi-Cal clients shifted to Partnership Health Plan of California (PHC), Yolo County CCS continues to manage coordination for non-Medi-Cal clients with CCS-eligible conditions. The CCS program maintains a network of CCS-paneled specialty and subspecialty providers, delivering services to around 729 children with special health care needs.

Additionally, CCS provides Medical Therapy services at public schools through the CCS Medical Therapy Program (MTP). The MTP offers physical therapy, occupational therapy, and Medical Therapy Conference (MTC) services to children meeting specific medical eligibility criteria. These services are provided at the Medical Therapy Units (MTUs), with a central site at Greengate School in Woodland and a satellite site at Golden Gate Middle School in West Sacramento.

Board approval is necessary to enable CMS to continue delivering effective and efficient comprehensive systems for vulnerable populations, improving health care options, and reducing overall health care costs. As only the Board of Supervisors can enter the County into a binding contract with the State, the Chairman’s signature is required for the plan’s submission.

The Partnership Health Plan of California (PHC), a county-organized health care system for Medi-Cal recipients, is responsible for the payments of CCS-authorized Medi-Cal patients. Yolo County CCS and Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) have an Interagency Agreement to facilitate interagency cooperation in providing medically necessary Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) services to eligible special education children. Yolo County CCS refers eligible CCS children to the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) to apply for Medi-Cal benefits.