REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  October  16, 2018
CATEGORY:  Consent - Health and Human Services-11.

SUBJECT:

Medicare enrollment application revalidation and authorization.

Supervisorial District No. :  All

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Terri Fields Hosler, MPH, RD-Public Health Branch Director, (530) 245-6861

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Terri Fields Hosler, MPH, RD-Public Health Branch Director

RECOMMENDATION

Take the following actions:  (1)  Approve and authorize the Chairman (as 1st Authorized Official) and the Vice Chairman (as 2nd Authorized Official) to sign the Medicare Enrollment application to update provider information for Public Health mass immunizations; (2)  approve and authorize the County Executive Officer (as 1st Delegated Official) and the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Director (as 2nd Delegated Official) to sign the Medicare Enrollment application which designates authority to sign future Medicare certification statements; (3) approve and authorize the HHSA Director to sign the Medicare participating physician or supplier agreement; and (4)  authorize the Chairman to sign a letter attesting to County’s legal and financial responsibilities related to Medicare payments received by the County.

SUMMARY

N/A

DISCUSSION

In accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, all enrolled Medicare providers are required to revalidate enrollment information every five years or as required for program integrity purposes.  Public Health received notification from the Medicare Administrative Contractor that it is required to revalidate its enrollment information this year by submitting new Medicare Enrollment Applications (CMS-855B) for Public Health Mass Immunizations. The application also includes updated certification statements showing who is authorized to sign on behalf of the County and who is delegated to make changes and/or updates to Public Health’s status related to the Medicare program.  As in the past, the first delegated official continues to be Lawrence G. Lees, County Executive Officer and the second delegated official continues to be HHSA Director, Donnell Ewert.

In addition to the applications, an attestation letter is required for government agencies, stating that the County will be legally and financially responsible in the event there is any outstanding debt, such as overpayments, owed to the Medicare Administrative Contractor for Medicare payments received by the County.

Failure to complete the enrollment application process could result in Medicare billing privileges being deactivated. 

ALTERNATIVES

One alternative is to not approve the application, which will preclude the Public Health Branch from obtaining reimbursement for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries. Another alternative is to not allow delegated official signers, which will require any future changes to the Medicare enrollment forms to be specifically approved by the Board.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the application as to form.  This recommendation has been reviewed by the County Administrative Office.

FINANCING

No additional County General Funds are requested with approval of this recommendation.