To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Grant Colfax, Health Services Director
Report Title: Delegating Authority for enrolling in Medicare under CMS Forms (included but not limited to CMS-855A and CMS-588 Form) for the West Contra Costa Healthcare District
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to act as the Authorized Official for the purpose of West Contra Costa Healthcare District’s Medicare enrollment and subsequent Medicare enrollment administrative updates.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal Impact for this action.
BACKGROUND:
On January 1, 2019, Governance transferred to the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors (SB 522 passed in 2018). Due to SB 522, Medicare Forms CMS-855A and CMS-588 need to be updated to reflect Medicare Information, the County’s address, (currently under the San Pablo address, formerly Doctors Medical Hospital) indicating the County as the “home office” (currently under the San Pablo address) and updating the Designating an Authorized and Delegated Official to County employees. Currently, our contract advisors and prior officials were designated.
Although changes were previously submitted to the forms, the updated information was not reflected in the Medicare system.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not taken, then the West Contra Costa Healthcare District cannot accept Medicare claim payments. Furthermore, any letters of correspondence are scheduled to be mailed to an incorrect address, which could result in delays, miscommunications, or other adverse outcomes.