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1 <br /> ORD-2014-009 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: February 18, 2014 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-c <br /> SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2013-14 Budget Amendment#5-A — Plan for Use of Enhanced <br /> Medicaid Administration Funds <br /> DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Nancy Coston, 919-245-2800 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider the plan from the Department of Social Services (DSS) to utilize <br /> enhanced reimbursements for Medicaid administration for Fiscal Year 2013-2014, including <br /> consideration of Budget Amendment #5-A and a request for time-limited staff, additional <br /> technology/computer equipment, staff overtime and building changes. <br /> BACKGROUND: All county departments of social services can now access enhanced <br /> reimbursements for costs related to the administration of Medicaid and related health benefits. <br /> Currently federal funds reimburse 50% of these costs, but after February 1, 2014, federal funds <br /> will reimburse 75% of the costs to complete eligibility for Medicaid using NCFAST. Based on <br /> the current reimbursements for Medicaid administration, this will increase DSS revenue for this <br /> fiscal year by approximately $160,000. This enhanced funding is not time-limited and will <br /> continue next fiscal year. <br /> To receive these funds, local agencies must provide a plan to the state outlining how these <br /> enhanced funds will be reinvested into the public assistance programs. The goal of this <br /> reinvestment is to assure that counties meet all the performance goals for issuance of Medicaid, <br /> Food and Nutrition and Work First benefits. The need for additional resources is related to the <br /> transition to NCFAST and to new requirements related to the Affordable Care Act. Although <br /> Orange County DSS has performed as well as most counties in this transition, employees are <br /> constantly struggling to stay current on cases while learning new procedures. <br /> The Orange County DSS recommends that these funds be used to fund some one-time <br /> computer enhancements and capital improvements as well as some ongoing staff costs. <br /> Specifically the agency is requesting to create one additional time-limited human services <br /> specialist through June 30, 2015 and to extend the existing three time-limited human services <br /> specialists, expiring June 30, 2014, through June 30, 2015. The agency has also been <br />