There is hereby established in Santa Cruz County ("County") a body which shall be known as the Santa Cruz County Community Health Centers Co-Applicant Commission ("Commission").
(Ord. 5193 § 1, 2014)
The purpose of the Commission is to act, in conjunction with the Board of Supervisors, as the governing body of those health care clinic operations of the County which are designated as Federally Qualified Health Centers ("FQHCs") pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sections 1395x(aa)(3) and/or 1395x(aa)(4) (FQHC clinics) and Section 254b(a) (Health Centers). The Commission is not governed by the provisions of Chapter 2.38 SCCC.
(Ord. 5193 § 1, 2014; Ord. 5298 § 15, 2019)
(A)
The initial Commission shall consist of 11 at-large members approved by the Board of Supervisors for a one-year term. All members of the Commission shall be residents of Santa Cruz County. No member of the Commission shall be an employee or an immediate family member of an employee of the County's FQHC clinics.
(B)
Patient Members. Six of the members shall be individuals who are served by the FQHC clinics or have accessed an FQHC clinic in the past 24 months to receive one or more in-scope service(s) that generated a health center visit ("patient members"). The six patient members, as a group, will reasonably represent the FQHC clinics' patient population in terms of race, ethnicity, and sex. Other factors such as socioeconomic status, age, and other relevant demographic factors may be considered as well. A legal guardian of an FQHC clinic patient who is a dependent child or adult, or a legal sponsor of an immigrant, may also be considered a patient member. Any additional applicable requirements for special population representation on the Commission shall also be met.
(C)
Community Members. The remaining five members of the Commission ("community members") shall be representatives of the community currently served by the FQHC clinics and have a broad range of skills, expertise, and perspectives, including, but not limited to, finance, legal affairs, business, health, managed care, social services, labor relations, and government. They shall also have a commitment to the population that utilizes the FQHC clinics and the special needs of that population. No more than two community members (less than one-half) may receive more than 10 percent of their annual income from the health care industry.
(Ord. 5193 § 1, 2014; Ord. 5298 § 15, 2019)
(A)
Upon creation of the Commission, a co-applicant agreement shall be established between the Commission and the Board of Supervisors delineating governance authority and responsibility of the Commission vis-a-vis the County's FQHCs. The co-applicant agreement shall be in compliance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration requirements for Federally Qualified Health Centers.
(B)
The Board of Supervisors shall maintain the authority to set general policy on fiscal and personnel matters pertaining to the FQHC clinics, including financial management practices, charging and rate setting, labor relations and conditions of employment. The Commission may not adopt any policy, employ any practice, or take any action which is inconsistent with, or which alters the scope of, the County Code, the Board of Supervisors' sovereign authority or any County policy regarding fiscal or personnel issues. Any member of the Commission may be removed by the Board of Supervisors by a majority vote for failing to comply with this section or as is deemed necessary by the Board of Supervisors to ensure the Commission's compliance herewith.
(Ord. 5193 § 1, 2014)
Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation. Travel and meal expenses when traveling out of County on Commission business shall be approved in advance by the Commission and reported to the Board of Supervisors.
(Ord. 5193 § 1, 2014)
(A)
Meetings shall be held pursuant to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration requirements for FQHCs.
(Ord. 5193 § 1, 2014)
The Commission shall be subject to the same financial conflict of interest rules and reporting requirements which are applicable to the Board of Supervisors and as otherwise required by law.
(Ord. 5193 § 1, 2014)