About the IHSS Public Authority

The County of San Diego IHSS Public Authority is a public agency that was formed in response to a mandate brought into law by California State Assembly Bill 1682 (passed in 1999). Throughout California, Public Authorities work to assist the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program that is administered at the county level in accordance with the California Welfare and Institutions Code. The staff of the IHSS Public Authority brings services to IHSS recipients (called “Consumers”) and in-home caregivers (called “Individual Providers”, or “IPs”) and operates a Registry that matches those in need of an IP with a worker in their area. Public Authorities are aided by an Advisory Committee made up of IHSS Consumers, Individual Providers and interested members of the public. The County Board of Supervisors serves as the Governing Body for the Public Authority in San Diego.

The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program is a state-mandated and state-regulated entitlement program under Medicaid (Medi-Cal). As with any entitlement program, any interested individual who meets the eligibility criteria must be served, and there is no cap on the program's growth. Under the IHSS program, Social Workers determine eligibility by collecting information and conducting in-person interviews.

The Role of the Public Authority in IHSS

The County of San Diego IHSS Public Authority is required to act as the "employer of record" for Individual Providers for the purposes of collective bargaining over wages, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. In San Diego County, IHSS Public Authority staff meets regularly with representatives from the United Domestic Workers of America both to negotiate wages, benefits, etc. and to find resolution to problems that arise for IPs.

The Public Authority also provides important services. Public Authority workers run a Provider Registry that recruits and provides DOJ criminal background screening, general orientation and training to IHSS workers and potential workers who are interested in being referred to IHSS Consumers. The Registry also operates a referral service for IHSS Consumers that provides a listing of potential workers that best match the requested needs. Consumers can receive in-home visits for guidance in finding and keeping providers.

Payroll is another very important service that the IHSS Public Authority provides for Individual Providers. During each half-month pay period, the Payroll Department of the San Diego IHSS Public Authority processes upwards of 20,000 timesheets for workers. These timesheets are proofread, calculated and entered into the State electronic system (CMIPS) for payments. Checks are then processed and sent from the State level. Some IPs may also be eligible for health benefits.

The Public Authority History

To understand the Public Authority, it is helpful to first understand something about the IHSS program. In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a State program run by the County that provides in-home assistance to low income aged, blind and disabled Consumers. The program's goal is to help keep these Consumers safely in their own homes instead of in an institution. If the Consumer uses an Individual Provider (IP), the Consumer is responsible to hire, fire, train and supervise his/her own provider.

A brief history of the County of San Diego IHSS Public Authority follows:

• July 1999 - State Law AB 1682 passed.
• May 2000 - IHSS Advisory Committee formed by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
• June 2000 - IHSS Advisory Committee begins, Committee recommends implementing the Public Authority as employer of record.
• October 2000 - The Board of Supervisors directed County staff to receive the recommendations of the Advisory Committee and to return with a draft Ordinance and report regarding Public Authority Implementation.
• February 2001 - Draft Ordinance and report presented to the Board of Supervisors. Board of Supervisors directs staff to return in 3-4 months with additional information and documents to implement the Public Authority.
• December 2001 - Executive Director Hired.
• July 1, 2002 - Public Authority took over function of processing Individual Provider IHSS Payroll.
• October 1, 2002 - Health Benefits for eligible Individual Providers in effect.
• February 3, 2003 - Provider Registry implemented.
• August 31, 2004 – The private contract mode is entirely replaced with the Individual Provider mode throughout San Diego County.
• October 15, 2004 – The Public Authority begins requiring all current IPs on the Registry and all future Registry members to undergo criminal background checks through the Department of Justice.
  

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