Chapter 13 — COUNTY ORGANIZED HEALTH SYSTEM

The Partnership HealthPlan of California Commission ("The Commission") is a multi-county commission that has created a managed health care plan for Medi-Cal recipients. The purpose of this chapter is to authorize the County of Siskiyou to join the existing Commission. This will allow the implementation of a county organized health system in Siskiyou County as authorized by Welfare and Institutions Code § 14087.54.

The Commission has a proven record of improving health care access to its members, who are Medi-Cal recipients, and improving Medi-Cal reimbursement rates to health care providers. The Commission links each member with a primary care provider and has been successful in reducing inappropriate use of emergency rooms, providing appropriate levels of inpatient care for its members, developing innovative case management programs and arranging for the provision of an enhanced level of local health care services.

The Commission will negotiate an exclusive contract with the California Department of Health Care Services authorizing the expansion of the Partnership HealthPlan of California into Siskiyou County. This expansion is expected to occur on or about September 1, 2013.

(Ord. No. 13-07, § 1, 7-23-2013)

Pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code § 14087.54, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors hereby authorizes the County of Siskiyou to join the Commission.

(Ord. No. 13-07, § 1, 7-23-2013)

Commission representation shall be based on the number of Medi-Cal beneficiaries enrolled in the HealthPlan in that County as follows: one commissioner per zero to 25,000 beneficiaries; two (2) commissioners per 25,000 to 40,000 beneficiaries; three (3) commissioners per 40,000 to 55,000 beneficiaries; and four (4) commissioners per more than 55,000 beneficiaries. Siskiyou County will be represented by one (1) member.

The single member, appointed by the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors, shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, shall be a resident of Siskiyou County, and shall demonstrate a commitment to a health care system which seeks to improve access to quality health care for all persons, regardless of their economic circumstances.

(Ord. No. 13-07, § 1, 7-23-2013; Ord. No. 15-14, § 1, 9-15-2015)

The term for the Siskiyou County Commissioner shall be for four-year periods. Nothing herein shall prohibit a person from serving more than one term. Each Commission member shall remain in office at the conclusion of that member's term until a successor member has been selected and installed into office. An office shall become vacant if a member fails to attend three (3) meetings in a row of the Commission.

(Ord. No. 13-07, § 1, 7-23-2013; Ord. No. 15-14, § 1, 9-15-2015)

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 14087.54 of the Welfare and Institutions Code as it exists on the date of adoption of this ordinance, the Commission shall:

(a)

Have the power to negotiate the exclusive contract with the California State Department of Health Care Services as specified in Section 14087.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and to arrange for the provision of health care services provided under Chapter 7, Part 3, Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code;

(b)

Be considered an entity separate from the County of Siskiyou County;

(c)

File the statement required by Section 53051 of the Government Code;

(d)

Have the power to acquire, possess, and dispose of real or personal property, as may be necessary for the performance of its functions, to employ personnel and contract for services required to meet its obligations, and to sue or be sued; and

(e)

Have all the rights, powers, duties, privileges, and immunities conferred by Article 2.8 of Chapter 7, Part 3, Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code in addition to those previously specified in this section.

(Ord. No. 13-07, § 1, 7-23-2013)

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 14087.54(d) of the Welfare and Institutions Code as it exists on the date of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter, any obligations of the Commission, statutory, contractual, or otherwise, shall be the obligations solely of the Commission and shall not be the obligations of the County of Siskiyou. The Commission shall do business as the Partnership HealthPlan of California.

(Ord. No. 13-07, § 1, 7-23-2013)

The Commission may establish advisory committees from time to time for any purpose that will be beneficial in accomplishing the work of the Commission.

(Ord. No. 13-07, § 1, 7-23-2013)

The Commission shall continue to represent Siskiyou County until such time as the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors terminates the representation. To terminate the representation, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors or its designee shall provide ninety-day notice to other participating counties and the State Department of Health Care Services, as specified in Welfare and Institutions Code § 14087.54(g).

(Ord. No. 13-07, § 1, 7-23-2013)

If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of the ordinance. The Board of Supervisors hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinance and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that one or more section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase be declared unconstitutional or invalid.

(Ord. No. 13-07, § I, 7-23-2013)