The System of Care Division (SCD) of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is responsible for the administration and oversight of programs that focus on fragile children and adults with special health care needs including Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Programs comprised of the California Children’s Services (CCS) and Child Health Disability and Prevention (CHDP) Programs. The CHDP Program includes the Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC). Each year, Yolo County’s local CCS and CHDP Programs are required to submit to DHCS SCD an Annual Plan that includes a local CMS Program narrative as well as budget and staffing documents. Submission of the Annual Plan is contingent on the release by DHCS of the program allocations and Plan and Fiscal Guidelines. For FY 21-22, this was provided by the DHCS on September 26, 2021.
The CCS Program provides diagnostic and treatment, medical case management, and physical and occupational therapy services to children under age 21 with CCS-eligible medical conditions. Yolo County CCS is responsible for assuring that children with medically eligible conditions receive necessary and appropriate health care. Examples of CCS-eligible conditions include, but are not limited to, chronic medical conditions such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, cerebral palsy, heart disease, cancer, traumatic injuries, and infectious diseases producing major sequelae.
On January 1, 2019, Yolo County CCS started the implementation of Senate Bill 586. This bill authorized the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to establish changes in the CCS program to provide health care coordination for Medi-Cal CCS clients with all medical conditions. This program is called the Whole Child Model (WCM). Yolo County CCS continues to determine medical, financial and residential eligibility to the entire CCS caseload. The responsibility of managed care coordination for the CCS Medi-Cal clients was transferred from CCS to Partnership Health Plan of California (PHC). However, we continue to provide care coordination of the non-Medi-Cal clients with CCS-eligible conditions.
CCS also provides Medical Therapy services that are delivered at public schools. The CCS Medical Therapy Program (MTP) provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, and Medical Therapy Conference (MTC) services to children who meet specific medical eligibility criteria. These services are provided in an outpatient clinic setting known as the Medical Therapy Unit (MTU) that is located at public school sites. A central MTU site is located at Greengate School in Woodland, and a satellite MTU site is located at Golden Gate Middle School in West Sacramento. Currently, CCS provides a network of CCS-paneled specialty and subspecialty providers and special care center services to approximately 744 children with special health care needs.
The CHDP Program provides complete health assessments for the early detection and prevention of disease and disabilities in children and youth. The population eligible for CHDP services includes all Medi-Cal eligible children/youth under age 21 and low-income, non-Medi-Cal eligible children/youth under age 19 with family income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The CHDP Program estimates there are 24,276 Yolo County children eligible for CHDP services. The CHDP program is responsible for resource and provider development to ensure that high-quality services are delivered to eligible children/youth. In addition, the program informs the target populations to increase their participation and community agencies and residents to increase the knowledge and acceptance of preventive services.
The Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care (HCPCFC) provides health care oversight of the physical, behavioral, dental and developmental needs of all Yolo County children in foster care/out-of-home placement. The caseload for HCPCFC in Fiscal Year 2020-21 was 432 children. The Public Health Nurse works with social workers or probation officers to ensure that children in out-of-home placement receive all needed health care services.
Board approval is needed so that CMS can continue providing effective and efficient comprehensive systems for vulnerable populations to improve their health care options and reduce health care costs. Only the Board of Supervisors can enter the County into a binding contract with the state. Therefore, the Chairman’s signature is required for the plan’s submission. |