Title
a. Ratify and approve the execution by the Clinic Services Bureau Chief of a Memorandum of Understanding with Monterey Hospitalist Medical Group, Inc. (MHMG) for the provision of inpatient primary care coverage for hospitalized patients at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) for patients assigned to Health Department Clinics, with an effective date of December 1, 2010 and which shall renew automatically unless earlier terminated or amended; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health or Assistant Director of Health to execute Amendment No. 1 to Memorandum of Understanding, adding Sliding Scale Discount Fee language; and
c. Approve and authorize the Director of Health or Assistant Director of Health to sign up to three (3) future amendments to this Memorandum of Understanding where the amendments do not significantly change the scope of work.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Ratify and approve the execution by the Clinic Services Bureau Chief of a Memorandum of Understanding with Monterey Hospitalist Medical Group, Inc. (MHMG) for the provision of inpatient primary care coverage for hospitalized patients at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) for patients assigned to Health Department Clinics, with an effective date of December 1, 2010 and which shall renew automatically unless earlier terminated or amended; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health or Assistant Director of Health to execute Amendment No. 1 to Memorandum of Understanding, adding Sliding Scale Discount Fee language; and
c. Approve and authorize the Director of Health or Assistant Director of Health to sign up to three (3) future amendments to this Memorandum of Understanding where the amendments do not significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The County currently operates nine Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQHC-LA) clinic sites, which are mandated by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide primary health services to all patients regardless of ability to pay. As defined by federal Section 330 statute, FQHC-LAs are required to provide professional coverage during hours when the health center is closed. Since not all clinic physicians have hospital admitting privileges at CHOMP, in accordance with HRSA program requirements, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was established in 2010 to ensure continuity of care for hospitalized patients under the primary care of the Health Department clinics.
All required and additional services within the clinics approved scope of project must be available to clinic patients regardless of ability to pay through a sliding fee discount program consistent with locally prevailing rates or charges and to cover costs of providing services. Since the MOU with MHMG is part of the clinics scope of project, language was added in Amendment No. 1 clarifying that Sliding Scale Discount Fees will be made available to eligible patients who are uninsured or underinsured and are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level to assist with the costs of their care.
This work supports the Monterey County Health Department 2011 - 2016 Strategic Plan initiative to (3) Ensure access to culturally and linguistically appropriate, customer-friendly, quality health services. It also supports one or more of the ten essential public health services, specifically: (7) Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The original MOU with MHMG did not include signatures from County Counsel, Auditor-Controller or Risk Management. County Counsel and the Auditor-Controller have reviewed and approved Amendment No. 1. Risk Management did not sign Amendment No. 1 since the original MOU was not signed by Risk Management.
FINANCING:
There are no fiscal provisions included in the Amendment No. 1 and Memorandum of Understanding. There are sufficient appropriations and revenues in the Fiscal Year 2015-16 Health Department Clinic Services Adopted Budget (4000-HEA007-8096) to accommodate this action.
Prepared by: Sheena Morales, Management Analyst III, 1393
Approved by: Elsa Jimenez, Interim Director of Health, 4526
Attachments:
Amendment No. 1 is on file with the Clerk of the Board
Memorandum of Understanding is on file with the Clerk of the Board