Chapter 6.96 — ALAMEDA ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH

The board of supervisors of the county does hereby find and declare as follows:

A.

That the State Department of Health Services has initiated a Strategic Plan entitled, Protecting Vulnerable Populations;

B.

That it is in the best interests of the targeted Medi-Cal population in the county that the county establish a local initiative health care delivery system;

C.

That a special commission or health authority is a necessary governing and administrative component of the local initiative;

D.

That the health authority shall be structured in a manner that enables it to assume the responsibility of the administration of funding services to other populations traditionally served by the county through contractual relationships with public and private providers, should the board of supervisors elect such an extension of fiscal responsibility following the accomplishment of the primary objective of the provision of accessible, quality health care to the designated Medi-Cal populations;

E.

That the health authority created pursuant to this chapter shall be referred to as the "Alameda alliance for health" (Alliance), and shall be structured and governed as set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. 94-13 § 1 (part): prior gen. code § 3-270.0)

The Alameda alliance for health is hereby created and established pursuant to Section 14087.54 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code, or other applicable law, to provide health care services to certain Medi-Cal populations in Alameda County and to otherwise meet the problems of the delivery of publicly assisted medical care in the county, and, further, to demonstrate ways of promoting quality care and cost efficiency.

(Ord. 94-13 § 1 (part): prior gen. code § 3-270.1)

The purpose of the alliance is to arrange and structure a comprehensive, integrated and procompetitive health care delivery system capable of delivering quality health care to certain Medi-Cal populations in Alameda County and, potentially, to other populations in the county, in a cost efficient manner through the negotiation of contracts with the California Department of Health Services, or other appropriate entities.

(Ord. 94-13 § 1 (part): prior gen. code § 3-270.2)

The governing board of the alliance shall consist of fifteen (15) members, each appointed by majority vote of the board of supervisors. Should the scope of responsibilities and authorities of the alliance expand to include the administration of funding for other than Medi-Cal funded services, additional views and input of other providers and disciplines might be required, at which point in time the board of supervisors may, by resolution, increase the number of governing board members to a total of nineteen (19) members, designate the representation, and provide for the nominating entities.

The initial eleven (11) members shall be appointed by majority vote of the board of supervisors, with the board of supervisors making the final decision as between multiple nominees for a given seat. The composition of the alliance governing board shall be as follows:

A.

One member shall be appointed from the membership of the board of supervisors.

B.

Two members shall be appointed who are physicians in the Alameda County medical community, representing private or public sectors. The Alameda-Contra Costa medical association and Sinkler-Miller medical group shall jointly nominate these persons.

C.

Two members shall be appointed from the hospital located in the county, representing private or public sectors. The Hospital Council of Northern and Central California shall nominate these persons.

D.

One member shall be appointed to represent private or public community clinics. This person shall be nominated by a nominating committee to be comprised of representatives of the Alameda health consortium and representatives of other major public and licensed private nonprofit clinics not affiliated with the consortium. The consortium will facilitate the formation of the nominating committee.

E.

Two members shall be appointed from the health services consumer community who are beneficiaries. These persons shall be nominated by the alliance consumer advisory committee in reasonable collaboration with other major consumer advocacy organizations.

F.

One member shall be appointed representing labor. This person shall be nominated by the SEIU United Healthcare Workers West in reasonable collaboration with other unions in the county.

G.

One member shall represent the Alameda Health System and shall be nominated by the Trustees of the Alameda Health System.

H.

One member shall represent the pharmacists and shall be nominated by the Alameda pharmacists association.

I.

One member shall be the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency Director or the director's designee.

J.

One member shall be the Alameda County Social Services Agency Director or the director's designee.

K.

One member shall represent the Community Health Center Network Executive Director seat and shall be nominated by the Community Health Center Network.

L.

One member shall represent long term services and supports in a subject matter expertise capacity and shall be nominated by the Alliance Executive Committee.

(Ord. 94-13 § 1 (part): prior gen. code § 3-270.3)

(Ord. No. 2023-32, § 1, 9-19-23)

The terms of office for each of the members shall be four years, except that the initial term of one of the two appointees representing the hospitals, physicians and consumers shall be for two years to create a staggered term as a means of promoting continuity of representation.

Members may serve more than one consecutive term, with limitations regarding the number of terms beyond two consecutive terms to be set forth in the alliance bylaws.

Each member shall remain in office at the conclusion of that member's term until a successor member has been selected and appointed into office by the board of supervisors.

An office shall become vacant if, in the opinion of a majority of the other governing board members, a member fails to carry out his or her duties appropriately, or fails to attend three consecutive general meetings without having secured from a majority of the governing board members prior authority to do so. The governing board shall advise, in writing, the board of supervisors of the declared vacancy and the facts in support of such action. The governing board's determination shall stand provided that there is credible evidence in support of the action. The board of supervisors shall appoint a successor pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.96.040.

In the event of a vacancy, due to illness, resignation, or failure to discharge duties, the vacancy shall be filled pursuant to Section 6.96.040 of this chapter.

(Ord. 94-13 § 1 (part): prior gen. code § 3-270.4)

As a group, the alliance governing board shall represent the best interests of the community, providing a balance between provider, consumer, and system perspectives. The governing board shall represent the diverse geographical and multicultural make-up of the county population, as well as those who would be served by the program.

A.

General Qualifications. In order to ensure the credibility and long-term viability of the system, the alliance governing board will comprise highly qualified individuals with the necessary vision, expertise, knowledge, objectivity, impartiality, creativity, and courage to make difficult health care and business decisions which promote the interests of Alameda alliance for health as a whole.

Expertise in areas such as business management, health care administration, medical services, consensus building, finance, fund raising, and cultural sensitivity would be among the desirable and necessary skills for the nominee(s).

B.

Specific Qualifications. The individuals should be highly qualified, with a proven dedication to the health and welfare of the Medi-Cal and other populations.

An alliance governing board member must have a combination of the following qualifications:

A thorough familiarity with the health care delivery structure in Alameda County, and the needs of the MediCal population;

2.

A demonstrated working knowledge of the Medi-Cal program;

3.

A thorough understanding of the multitude of issues facing the implementation of a managed care system;

4.

A strong business management, finance and/or program management background;

5.

An ability to obtain adequate and necessary funds for preoperational and operational budgets;

6.

Experience with effectively managing a health care services budget;

7.

A commitment to the creation of a publicly funded health care system for the good of the public, rather than for the benefit of special interests;

8.

An ability to be an active and contributing participant throughout the process;

9.

A sensitivity to consumer concerns.

(Ord. 94-13 § 1 (part): prior gen. code § 3-270.5)

Upon formation, the alliance governing board shall proceed to develop bylaws necessary to the smooth and successful implementation, administration and operation of the integrated health system. The bylaws shall become operative upon approval by a majority vote of the board of supervisors of the county. Any changes or amendments to the bylaws shall be by majority vote of the board of supervisors.

The bylaws shall provide, in detail, for the operation of the alliance and the governing board, and shall contain articles pertaining to, at minimum, the following areas:

A.

Authority and purpose of the alliance;

B.

Meetings;

C.

Governing board members;

D.

Officers;

E.

Committees;

F.

Advisory groups;

G.

Conflict of interest code;

H.

Insurance coverage and risk management issues;

I.

Indemnification of governing board members, officers, employees, agents;

J.

Prohibition against remuneration for referrals.

(Ord. 94-13 § 1 (part): prior gen. code § 3-270.6)

The Alameda alliance for health, its officers, directors and employees, shall, through the bylaws, conduct activities in a manner that is in conformity with the laws of the state as they pertain to conflicts of interest, including, but not limited to, the following:

A.

Political Reform Act. The alliance governing board shall adopt and promulgate a conflict of interest code pursuant to the provisions of the Political Reform Act of 1974, and shall be submitted to the county board of supervisors within six months of the date the alliance comes into existence pursuant to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter. Each member of the alliance governing board is subject to the

provisions of the Political Reform Act, and will be required to execute a statement of economic interests in a manner consistent with the Act and the conflict of interest code.

B.

Financial Interests Involving Contracts. Each member of the alliance governing board is intended to be subject to the provisions of the California Government Code Section 1090, et seq., relating to personal financial interests in contracts made by the alliance.

C.

Common Law Conflict of Interest. Alliance governing board members and officers shall discharge his or her duties with integrity and fidelity and may not let private interests influence public decisions.

D.

Medi-Cal Conflict of Interest Law. The alliance and its governing board members and officers may be subject to the provisions of the Medi-Cal Conflict of Interest Law as set out in the California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 14030, et seq.

E.

Incompatible Activities. Alliance governing board members and officers may be subject to the provisions of the California Government Code Section 1125, et seq., pertaining to activities for compensation which are incompatible with the duties connected to the alliance.

(Ord. 94-13 § 1 (part): prior gen. code § 3-270.7)