Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, Health System
Carlos Morales, Director, Correctional Health
Subject: Resolution Authorizing the Controller to Pay Non-Contract Medical Service Providers at Non-County Facilities to Provide Services to County Inmates
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the Controller to pay non-contract medical service providers at non-County facilities to provide services to County inmates not available at a County site for the term July 1, 2018 through to June 30, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000.
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BACKGROUND:
Since 1980, your Board has authorized the Controller to pay non-contract medical service providers at non-County facilities to provide services to County inmates when San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) or a contracted medical care provider is unable to provide the necessary level of care.
Specific to Correctional Health Services (CHS), California Assembly Bill 658 (AB658) (enacted July 16, 2015) authorizes hospitals that do not contract with the county sheriffs, police chief, or other public agency to provide emergency health care services to local law enforcement patients at a rate equal to 110 percent of the hospital's actual costs, according to the most recent Hospital Annual Financial Data report issued by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, as calculated using a cost-to-charge ratio.
DISCUSSION:
As a result of criminal justice realignment and changes in sentencing laws, inmates are staying in the correctional facilities longer, requiring more medical care for which the County is financially responsible. Additionally, due to similar factors, we are seeing an increase in patient acuity, e.g. oncology treatment, stroke, and neurological cases. As SMMC is not a stroke designated center, first responders either transport the inmates directly to a stroke certified ce...
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