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 San Mateo Health Commission d/b/a Health Plan of San Mateo to Accept Funds Supporting the Primary Care Network
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with San Mateo Health Commission d/b/a Health Plan of San Mateo to accept funds supporting the primary care network, for the term of August 29, 2025 through August 29, 2030, in an amount not to exceed $600,000.
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BACKGROUND:
In April 2025, San Mateo Health Commission d/b/a Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM) launched a new grant for their primary care provider network. The purpose of the Core Team Stabilization Grant is to offer competitive compensation packages for primary care providers and medical assistants to support primary care network recruitment efforts and to help stabilize care teams.
DISCUSSION:
San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) was chosen as one of the grantees by HPSM as part of their efforts to recognize and invest in primary care as well as to recognize SMMC’s ongoing significant impacts of primary care provider shortages and support staffing challenges. This funding will aid SMMC in the hiring and retention of primary care providers, medical assistants, nurse practitioners, and those who are new to the workforce serving San Mateo County’s Medi-Cal patients.
For these funds, key metrics include providing ongoing access to established patient care panels. Metrics of success are the filling of these vacancies and the ability to meet the access needs for patients assigned to these panels for care. The positions currently vacant are in SMMC’s geriatric clinic, Ron Robinson Senior Care Clinic, as well as a position that supports the urgent needs at SMMC’s main campus and Fair Oaks Health Center. SMMC expects these recruitment incentives will shorten the time required to find qualified permanent staff and will reduce the wait time for follow-up appointments at these clinics.
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 the two primary care practitioners’ vacancies will be filled within one year and retained thereafter.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2025-26 Estimated |
FY 2026-27 Projected |
|
Number of primary care practitioners’ vacancies filled within one year and retained thereafter |
2 |
2 |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
SMMC is committed to advancing health by ensuring all individuals have access to high-quality, compassionate healthcare. 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 (53%), Hispanic or Latino (57%), and primarily Spanish-speaking (54%). Studies have shown continuity with a primary care team leads to better diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. Patients are more likely to communicate openly with long-term relationships with their primary care team. This grant will allow SMMC to more quickly replace the providers who have left after many years of service with the clinic and will also reduce fragmented care, which is the primary risk during these periods of transition. Better consistency will in turn reduce emergency room utilization and risks of worsening health function for the patients. While per diem and other measures are in place to meet interim needs, it is the continuity factor that can only be reestablished once a permanent provider and staffing are in place.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $600,000. The anticipated appropriations and grant revenue will be added to the SMMC FY 2025-26 Approved Budget using an Appropriation. Anticipated appropriations and grant revenue will be incorporated into recommended budgets in future years.