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 Howard Belfer, MD to Provide Neurology Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Howard Belfer, MD to provide neurology services for the term April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2022, for an amount not to exceed $720,000.
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BACKGROUND:
Neurology is a non-surgical specialty area that addresses many of the root causes for neurological disorders, nerve damage, and pain and serves as a basis for differential diagnoses in most core medical specialty areas. Dr. Belfer has provided neurology services at San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) for many years, offering SMMC the benefits of an experienced practitioner familiar with the complex nature of the county patient base.
DISCUSSION:
SMMC has a continuous need for these serves and Dr. Belfer will continue to provide neurology clinic services, test interpretation, and call coverage. Dr. Belfer works with another neurologist, Dr. Michael Siegel, to provide 24/7 call coverage for SMMC neurology patients.
County Administrative Memorandum B-1 provides that contracts for physicians are exempt from the Request for Proposals process.
The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form. This contract is late due to prolonged negotiations with Dr. Belfer.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The agreement contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Healthy Community by providing basic neurology services to SMMC patients. It is anticipated that 100 percent of electroencephalograms (EEGs) will be read and interpreted within 24 hours of administration.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2018-19 Estimated |
FY 2019-20 Projected |
|
Percentage of EEGs read and interpreted within 24 hours of administration |
90% |
100% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2022. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $720,000 for the three-year term. Funds in the amount of $60,000 are included in the SMMC FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget. Funds in the amount of $240,000 will be included in the SMMC FY 2019-20 Recommended Budget. Similar arrangements will be made for future years.
This contract’s payment provisions differ from that of the previous contract. Specifically, this contract reflects a 7% increase due to a rise in rates for this specialty published in the 2018 Medical Group Management Association Provider Compensation and Production Report, a tool SMMC uses to benchmark physician contract compensation.
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 are covered by the County’s General Fund contribution to SMMC, and are within the existing annual appropriation.