Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Tamarra Jones, Director, Public Health, Policy and Planning
Subject: Public Health, Policy and Planning Fee Schedule Update
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution updating the Public Health, Policy and Planning (PHPP) Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2026.
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BACKGROUND:
The PHPP Fee Schedule sets fees for the Public Health Laboratory (PHL), Public Health Clinics, and Vital Records. Services include clinical and environmental testing, vaccines, medical care, vital records documents, and medical marijuana identification cards.
Fees are based on the cost of providing services and are set to avoid creating a barrier to communicable disease testing. Fees are charged to customers (which include individuals and health care providers) who request the service where insurance billing isn't available. Fees for courier services are charged to requesting agencies or regulated entities, not to individual patients. In addition, fees may be waived for people at risk of spreading a communicable disease, those who qualify under the Federal Health Care for the Homeless Program, or those with economic hardship.
DISCUSSION:
The Fee Schedule is updated each year to add new services, remove outdated fees, and reflect current costs. A cost-based method keeps fees transparent and financially sound. Fees do not exceed the cost of the service. FY 2026-27 changes to fees and methods used to determine the fees are as follows:
Public Health Clinics fees are determined by order pricing from our primary supplier via San Mateo Medical Center and compared with neighboring institutions. Lab test fees for tests performed by the PHL are matched to the PHL fee schedule. STI clinic visit fees are increasing from $25 to $40, which is consistent with peer county STI clinic rates and remain below those charged at comparable retai...
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