DATE: June 18, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Agreement with Central California Faculty Medical Group
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Central California Faculty Medical Group for Physician Consultation and Administrative Services, effective July 1, 2024, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $300,000.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of the recommended agreement with Central California Faculty Medical Group (CCFMG) will allow continued physician consultation and administrative services to the County for crucial public health issues and events. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. Should your Board not approve the recommended action, the Department would not have access to essential physician consultation services, which could impact the ability to effectively serve the community with current and future public health issues.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net Count Cost associated with the recommended action. The recommended Agreement will be fully offset with funding provided by the Epidemiology and Lab Capacity for Infection Disease (ELC) Enhancing Detection through Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Funds. Services beyond available ELC funding will be fully offset with other State and Federal grant revenues depending on the benefitting programs and/or 1991 Public Health Realignment. The CCFMG agreement provides for physician consultation services to be paid at a set hourly rate ($160.00) plus an additional 15% administration fee for a maximum of $300,000. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget and will be included in future Department budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
On September 7, 2021, your Board retroactively ratified an Agreement (A-21-259) with CCFMG, providing physician consultation and administrative services to the Department. The Department has utilized the contracted services since May of 2021 (D-20-427). The assigned physician has worked closely alongside the Department’s executive team and senior management assisting in the following: consultation when necessary, overseeing medical protocols, policies and procedures, and evaluating the quality of medical care provided.
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department to expand on the relationship and utilize the expertise of CCFMG physicians for the following areas: be the point of contact for consults regarding individual cases of Carbapenemase Producing Organisms (CPO’s), Multidrug Resistant Organisms, and outbreaks of reportable communicable diseases in congregate settings such as Acute Care Hospitals and Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF), perform on-site assessments in response to outbreaks for mitigation and in support of Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) preventions, as well as other tasks related to the Maternal, Children, and Adolescent Health (MCAH) program and public health.
In the past, the Department has attempted to recruit permanent Public Health Physicians to fulfill these duties; however, this has been unsuccessful due to competition from area public and private entities and a physician shortage impacting the Central Valley. Therefore, the Department recommends approval of this Agreement to continue the required services, effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027, with the option to extend for two 12-month periods.
The recommended Agreement deviates from the standard County insurance language and limits. The Department conferred with the County’s Human Resources Risk Management Division (Risk) on these items and Risk indicated that a low risk is presented to the County. The Department considers the agreement to be in the County’s best interest and has elected to move forward subject to your Board’s approval.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #48, September 7, 2021
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with CCFMG
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander