Job Specifications

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Under general direction plans, organizes, directs and administers a program for the provision of a wide variety of medical care services to the County's indigent population, and to perform other related duties.

This single position class reports to the Health Officer and is responsible for the development, implementation and functioning of the County indigent care program. This position is responsible for integrating eligibility, management information systems and contract function into a medical care financing and delivery system, which must satisfy complex criteria.

Designs and implements a program for the provision of medical services for indigent patients consistent with State requirements and County goals and objectives; interviews, selects, and evaluates subordinate managers; recommends to the Health Services Agency Administrator the range of health care benefits to be provided by the program and the methods of their provisions; negotiates and monitors contracts with local providers for the purchase of health care services; works cooperatively with other Health Services Agency managers to arrange access for indigents to County clinics, pharmacy, mental health services, and other health care facilities; works with other HSA managers and the fiscal staff to establish a financial payment system for indigent services. Oversees the development of an eligibility system including recommending an appropriate level and number of staff, specifying income and property limits, approving an eligibility manual, and policies and procedures for processing and approving applications. Oversees the development of a management information system linking eligibility, authorization for care and payment for care, recommends and monitors the indigent care program budget and recommends corrective actions to increase or decrease expenditures as necessary; authorizes and evaluates special studies and analysis of the local program components; establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with the State Department of Health Services, local health care providers and local community groups representing the medically indigent; helps develop and represents to the State the County's position regarding the indigent care program's financing, standards, audits, reporting procedures, etc.; analyzes and interprets State regulations and informational material and analyzes and interprets relevant legal decisions and opinions; prepares reports and correspondence.

• Thorough knowledge of the medical care delivery and financing system in California and the relationships within various governmental, public and private entities;
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices necessary to plan, organize, implement and direct a large and complex medical care program;
• Working knowledge of the principles of contract negotiation and monitoring;
• Some knowledge of the principles of supervision and personnel management;
• Some knowledge of the State Medi Cal system and the legislation defining County responsibility for indigent care;
• Some knowledge of various health care medical or welfare eligibility systems, procedures and strategies;
• Some knowledge of the operation and development of data collecting and reporting systems.

• Exercises initiative, ingenuity and sound judgment in solving difficult administrative and technical problems;
• Analyze, plan and project the impact of various decisions and options on the medical care program's budget, utilization, and client acceptability;
• Prepare and present concise, logical, written and oral reports;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships at a state, local and departmental level;
• Explain and interpret medical care program policy decisions and procedures to medical care providers and community groups;
• Negotiate and monitor contracts for medical services;
• Develop, monitor and modify a large budget for financing medical services;
• Supervise management staff.

Training and Experience: Any combination of training and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and abilities, is qualifying. A typical way to obtain those knowledge and abilities would be:

Three years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a health or human services field that would provide the above knowledge and abilities.

Possession of valid California Class C Driver's License or must be able to provide suitable transportation approved by appointing authority.