***Readers may remember that the 2012-2013 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury noted that SHD gives funds to the Ravenswood Clinic, even though the clinic is not located within its boundaries.***
___As a director, I attended the "invitation only" Opening Celebration of the new Ravenswood Family Health Center at 1885 Bay Road in EPA, held on Thursday, March 19, 2015. I was surprised at how deep into EPA it was located.
___At that event, I spoke with State Senator Jerry Hill, and Assemblymember Rich Gordon about legislation to facilitate a resolution of the healthcare district issue in San Mateo County. I also questioned Luisa, concerning the methodology used by the Center to determine district residency of it’s patients.
___At the public board meeting of the district, I asked Luisa if they assumed that the 94025 zip code for Menlo Park was assumed to be within the SHD boundaries. She admitted that they did, and acted surprised that East Menlo Park, which was originally unincorporated county area not in the SHD, did not fall under the jurisdiction of SHD when it was annexed to Menlo Park. It was noted in her presentation that “…our staff will be able to work with an auditor from SHCD to conduct an audit on our data for the SHCD residents we serve…” After an amendment by Director Shefren to reduce the funding term from three to two years, the motion passed with a 3 to 1 vote(Director Kane was not present). No auditor was appointed to follow up with Ravenswood on the district residency issue.
___On a separate note, Samaritan House, which was also seeking funding, was questioned on the same issue of residency. Their presentation included the following: “Approximately 92% of our target population lives in the Sequoia Healthcare District. 58% lives in Redwood City; most others come from East Menlo Park. No action was taken on their request as Director Shefren recused himself citing a conflict of interest, and, after I was denied a motion to suspend a board policy which allows only two members of our five member board to pass a motion, I denied the board a quorum by vacating my seat at the table.
On the day after the meeting, I sent the following to Luisa Buada:
Luisa, congratulations on your successes with RFHC. Regarding yesterday’s meeting, I can appreciate your confusion regarding the Menlo Park annexation which did not change the Healthcare District boundaries. I look forward to receiving updated information using precinct maps to establish district residency of your clients.
Luisa’s response:
Thank you Jack. We plan to follow up shortly to comply with the precinct analysis to make certain we are supplying the Board with the correct data.
