REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 24, 2024
FROM
ANDREW GOLDFRACH, ARMC Chief Executive Officer, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Award Agreement with the Public Health Institute for the CalBridge Behavioral Health Navigator Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept grant award and approve Subcontract Agreement, including non-standards terms, with Public Health Institute for reimbursement of up to $70,120 for the continued implementation of the CalBridge Behavioral Health Navigator Program at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, for the period of May 1, 2024 through October 30, 2024.
2. Authorize the ARMC Chief Executive Officer to execute any administrative documents in relation to the grant award, subject to review by County Counsel.
(Presenter: Andrew Goldfrach, ARMC Chief Executive Officer, 580-6150)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the Subcontract Agreement (Agreement) with Public Health Institute (PHI) will result in revenue to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On March 11, 2024, PHI released a request for applications for grant funding under the CalBridge Behavioral Health Navigator Program (Program) to support emergency departments to become primary access points for the treatment of substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions through the provision of Substance Use Navigators in hospital emergency departments. PHI is contracted with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to administer the grant funding and to implement the Program.
On March 25, 2024, with the approval of the Chief Executive Officer under County Policy 05-13, ARMC applied for grant funding in an amount up to $120,000 to continue the implementation of the Program at ARMC, which began in 2022 through prior grant funding from PHI.
On April 4, 2024, ARMC was notified by PHI that it would be awarded funding under the Program by way of the Agreement, in an amount up to $70,120, for the term of May 1, 2024 through October 30, 2024. The actual grant amount that ARMC will receive through the Program is dependent on the completion of various milestones under the Agreement.
The Agreement is effective retroactively as PHI is unwilling to revise the start date of May 1, 2024, and this is the first opportunity to bring the Agreement with PHI to the Board of Supervisors for approval.
The Subcontract Agreement with PHI is non-negotiable and subject to the terms of the prime contract between the DHCS and PHI, which includes the following indemnification provision that differs from the standard County indemnification provision:
1. The County is required to indemnify PHI against third party claims from any intentional, grossly negligent or negligent act or failure to act by the County, its directors, officers, employees or agents in the performance of the Agreement, including without limitation any accident or injury to persons or property.
• The County standard contract does not include any indemnification or defense by the County of a contractor.
• Potential Impact: By agreeing to indemnify PHI, the County could be contractually waiving the protection of sovereign immunity. Claims that may otherwise be barred against the County, time limited, or expense limited could be brought against PHI without such limitations and the County would be responsible to defend and reimburse PHI for costs, expenses, and damages, which could exceed the total contract amount.
ARMC recommends acceptance of the grant award and approval of the Agreement, including non-standard terms, as it will allow ARMC to continue to fund Substance Use Navigators to benefit and serve County patients.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Charles Phan, Supervising Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 28, 2024; Risk Management (Gregory Ustaszewski, Staff Analyst II, 386-9008) on August 8, 2024; ARMC Finance (Chen Wu, Finance and Budget Officer, 580-3165) on August 29, 2024; Finance (Jenny Yang, Administrative Analyst, 387-4884) on August 29, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on August 29, 2024.