COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Services Agency

 

DATE:

August 19, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 9, 2003

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Margaret Taylor, Director of Health Services

 

SUBJECT:

Donation of Computer Equipment from the California Healthcare Foundation

 

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution accepting the donation of computer equipment from the California Healthcare Foundation for the "One-e-App" system.

 

Background

The Children's Health Initiative (CHI), with Human Services Agency's (HSA) leadership, has worked to develop the "One-e-App" (One Electronic Application) application system, ensuring that the health insurance enrollment and eligibility determination process are as seamless and user-friendly as possible.

"One-e-App" is a locally driven web-based system for streamlining enrollment into a range of publicly funded health programs. For example, it enables families to apply for Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and Healthy Kids using only one on-line application form. It also includes adult health programs such as the San Mateo Medical Center WELL program. The system expedites eligibility determination and enrollment; improves data tracking; and integrates with the existing Health Plan of San Mateo and HSA Information Technology systems.

The California Healthcare Foundation (CHCF) is supporting San Mateo County in its effort to implement this new web-based program. CHCF has donated computer equipment to ensure that San Mateo County has the technological capacity to widely implement the "One-e-App."

 

Discussion

The CHCF-donated equipment will expand the number of community-based application assistors who have the tools to enroll families through this new web-based system. Without notebook computers, many application assistors must currently use the traditional paper-based applications, as they work in community clinic waiting rooms, schools, churches, and community based organizations (CBOs) that do not have access to computers. The use of this donated equipment will enable these assistors to access the One-e-App in non-traditional locations. The equipment will be housed and maintained by the Health Services Agency, working with ISD, and used by a combination of application assistors from Health Services, Human Services, San Mateo Medical Center, and CBOs.

 

The CHCF computer equipment donation values $27,432. The items donated are :

    · 2 Dell Optiplex GX240 desktop computers with 17" monitors

    · 9 Dell Lattitude C400 Notebook computers

    · 9 Brenthaven notebook bags

    · 9 HP OfficeJet V40xi printers

    · 11 Topaz signature pads

 

The donation was reviewed by the Information Service Department to assure compatibility. ISD will maintain the equipment, as they do with other equipment in Health Services. Most of the equipment will not be operated on the county network, but will be used to connect directly to the internet from remote locations.

 

Vision Alignment

The donation of computer equipment for the "One-e-App" keeps to the commitment of Ensuring Basic Health and Safety for all and goal number 5: Residents have access to health care and preventive care. The donated equipment contributes to this commitment and goal by providing an easy enrollment process for health care coverage for children and adults.

 

Fiscal Impact

The donation of computer equipment reduces the expenses of the CHI program by providing equipment that would otherwise have to be purchased. There will be ongoing expenses associated with this donation, including maintenance charges from ISD. The maintenance expenses is about $6,600 per year and is included in the 2003-04 budget for the Children's Health Initiative.