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: Agreement with Nitin Prabhakar, MD to Provide Pain Management Services
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Nitin Prabhakar, MD to provide pain management medicine services for the term of February 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $236,288.
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BACKGROUND:
Pain management is an important service that benefits County patients by aiding in their recovery and managing chronic discomfort.
DISCUSSION:
The contract under consideration with Dr. Prabhakar is new and intended to meet community need for pain management services, in tandem with the County’s currently contracted pain management providers.
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.
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 less than 5% of the patients who are 18 years of age or older seen by pain management have an overlapping supply of an opioid and a benzodiazepine for 30 or more days in a row (excluding those in hospice or with cancer)
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
FY 2024-25 Projected |
|
Percentage of patients who are 18 years of age or older seen by pain management that have an overlapping supply of an opioid and a benzodiazepine for 30 or more days in a row (excluding those in hospice or with cancer). |
< 5% |
< 5% |
EQUITY IMPACT:
Dr. Prabhakar’s pain management coverage positively impacts equitable health outcomes for San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC)’s patients by specifically addressing the behavioral and psychological needs of his patients in clinic while helping them manage their pain. 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. Prabhakar to meet with SMMC and discuss patient feedback to improve patient satisfaction and remove potential barriers to care.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is February 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $236,288 for the one-year term. Funds in the amount of $98,453 are included in the SMMC FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget. Funds in the amount of $137,835 are included in the SMMC FY 2025-26 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.