Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Chester J. Kunnappilly, MD, Chief Executive Officer, San Mateo Medical Center
Subject: Issuance of Purchase Orders to Priority Healthcare DBA Curascript Specialty for Intrauterine and Implantable Prescription Devices
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing the County Purchasing Agent to issue purchase orders to Priority Healthcare DBA Curascript to provide intrauterine and implantable prescription devices for the term of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $775,000.
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BACKGROUND:
As part of San Mateo County’s commitment to women’s health, San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) offers a variety of intrauterine and implantable prescription devices that provide birth control for its patients.
DISCUSSION:
SMMC’s pharmacy has been purchasing intrauterine and implantable prescription devices for many years through vendor agreements with Priority Healthcare dba Curascript Specialty Distribution (Curascript). SMMC is also requesting this Board to temporarily waive the County’s competitive procurement in Administrative Memorandum B-1 because Curascript’s Nexplanon, an implantable birth control device inserted on the inner side of a woman’s upper arm, provides safe and effective contraception for up to three years. SMMC intends to bid out this product line by March 31, 2025 in order to receive competitive pricing and award a new vendor agreement. This agreement is coming to this Board late due to prolonged negotiations.
County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
It is anticipated that the insertion of these implantable prescription devices will prevent conception for up to three years more than 99% of the time.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
|
Percentage of time that these implantable prescription devices will prevent conception for up to three years |
>99% |
>99% |
EQUITY IMPACT:
An implantable birth control device for women offers significant potential to improve reproductive health equity, particularly for low-income, minority, and underserved communities. To ensure equitable access, it is crucial to provide this contraceptive option to SMMC’s patients. This method could reduce unintended pregnancy rates in these vulnerable populations. SMMC’s patients span a wide spectrum of races, ethnicities, gender, and gender-identities. Within the past 18 months, the largest cohorts of specialty care patients at SMMC were female (52%), Hispanic or Latino (63%), and primarily Spanish speaking (55%).
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $775,000 for the three-year term. Funds in the amount of $775,000 are included in the SMMC FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget.
Expenses at SMMC are covered by fees for services or third-party payors whenever possible. The portion of expenses for services provided to the medically indigent or to those covered by programs that do not meet the full costs of care is covered by the County’s General Fund contribution to SMMC and is within the existing annual appropriation.