Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Chester J. Kunnappilly, MD, Chief Executive Officer, San Mateo Medical Center
Subject: Agreement with Lousia Lu, MD to Provide Ophthalmology Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Lousia Lu, MD to provide ophthalmology services for the term of February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $250,432.
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BACKGROUND:
San Mateo County has a history of providing ophthalmology care to meet community need. Demand for ophthalmology services is projected to increase as the population of the County trends older.
DISCUSSION:
Dr. Lu would be a newly contracted physician who will provide up to 52 four-hour blocks of outpatient ophthalmology clinic coverage at a rate of $250 per hour, up to 96 four-hour blocks of coverage to San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC)’s operating room at a rate of $288 per hour, and up to 183 24-hour unrestricted on-call coverage shifts at a rate of $30 per hour to respond to urgent and emergent patient care needs.
The rates in the new contract are within fair market value according to VMG Health, a nationally recognized medical services valuation firm that relies upon multiple industry-standard provider compensation surveys and aggregates that data.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution and agreement as to form.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
It is anticipated that 100% of diabetic patients evaluated by Dr. Lu will receive retinopathy screening, if due.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2025-26 Estimated |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
|
Percentage of diabetic patients evaluated by Dr. Lu that will receive retinopathy screening, if due |
100% |
100% |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Dr. Lu’s continued ophthalmology coverage will positively impact health outcomes because delivery of ophthalmology services at SMMC, a public safety net hospital, addresses community need. Specifically, Dr. Lu’s 183 24-hour shifts of on-call services to aid urgent and emergent eye trauma and disease needs at SMMC is needed to fill a potential gap in ophthalmology coverage. 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%). SMMC strives to eliminate bias in the medical profession by providing culturally competent training to its physicians and by following up with patients to ensure that they continue to have access to specialized care. SMMC specifically tracks physician satisfaction survey results and requires Dr. Lu to meet with SMMC and discuss patient feedback to improve patient satisfaction and remove potential barriers to care.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the proposed agreement is February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $250,432 for the one-year term. Funds in the amount of $104,347 are included in the SMMC FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget. Funds in the amount of $146,085 are included in the SMMC FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget.
The compensation rates offered to Dr. Lu match the rates offered to SMMC’s ophthalmology panelists for the same services.
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.