DATE:
June 25, 2026
01
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
SHERIFF - REQUEST TO ENTER INTO THE MEDI-CAL COUNTY INMATE PROGRAM AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) provided guidance and procedures regarding county participation in the voluntary Medi-Cal County Inmate Program (MCIP). This program implements a provision of federal law that allows for the claiming of Medicaid funds for inpatient services provided to incarcerated persons when those services are provided at a medical facility located off the grounds of the correctional facility, for a stay of 24 hours or more, and the incarcerated person is found to be Medicaid eligible. This program offers the opportunity for providers to bill Medi-Cal directly for eligible persons and costs, which could reduce county expenditures for inpatient care for incarcerated persons. As off-site medical needs and incarcerated individuals' serious or complex medical conditions continue to rise, ongoing participation in MCIP is essential because it provides significant cost savings and helps the San Diego Sheriff's Office (Sheriff's Office) mitigate increasing medical expenditures for patients requiring inpatient medical services in the community.
Approval of today's recommended actions will authorize the participation of the Sheriff's Office and Probation in the MCIP for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. This is also a request to authorize the County of San Diego's participation in the MCIP in subsequent years if there are no material changes to the agreement terms.
RECOMMENDATIONS
SHERIFF
1. Approve and authorize the Sheriff or designee to accept and execute upon receipt Medi-Cal County Inmate Program Agreements with the California Department of Health Care Services for the term of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029.
2. Authorize the Sheriff or designee to execute all require...
Click here for full text