REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 8, 2023
FROM
WILLIAM L. GILBERT, Director, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
SUBJECT
Title
Revenue Provider Services Agreement with Alpha Care Medical Group for Ancillary Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Revenue Provider Services Agreement, including non-standard terms, with Alpha Care Medical Group for provision of outpatient health care services to designated Medi-Cal Managed Care members, retroactively effective January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024.
2. Direct the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to maintain the confidentiality of the Provider Services Agreement pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1457(c)(1).
(Presenter: William L. Gilbert, Director, 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). This revenue agreement will be utilized to ensure reimbursement to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) from Alpha Care Medical Group (Alpha Care) for providing outpatient care to certain Medi-Cal managed care plan members who are assigned to Alpha Care. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the ARMC 2023-24 budget and will be included in the recommended 2024-25 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Health plans contract with Independent Practice Associations (IPA), such as Alpha Care, for the provision of care for their Medi-Cal managed care members. The recommended revenue agreement will provide reimbursement from Alpha Care to ARMC for outpatient care services provided by ARMC to Medi-Cal managed care plan members who are assigned to Alpha Care. The agreement is retroactive to January 1, 2022, as Inland Empire Health Plan, one of the health plans contracted with Alpha Care and ARMC, changed its Division of Financial Responsibility designation for hospital outpatient care from the health plan to IPAs effective as of this date. ARMC was made aware of this change and began negotiations with Alpha Care in January 2023. The recommended agreement will also make ARMC eligible for supplemental reimbursement through the Hospital Direct Payment Programs based on the outpatient care services provided to Medi-Cal managed care plan members assigned to Alpha Care.
An IPA is an association of independent physicians that contract with health plans to provide services to the health plan’s members. Generally, under the contracts between the health plans and the IPAs, including Alpha Care, the health plans pay the IPAs a capitated rate, per member per month, and in exchange, the IPAs are required to directly provide healthcare services to their assigned members, or pay for the services when otherwise not available through the IPA. In cases where Alpha Care is unable to provide the healthcare services to the assigned member, Alpha Care must contract and pay other healthcare providers to provide such care to the member.
The agreement with Alpha Care was negotiated by the parties that include the following non-standard contract terms and omits the following standard County contract terms:
1. Either party may terminate the agreement with 180 days written notice.
• The County standard contract permits the County to terminate the contract with 30 days notice.
• Potential Impact: ARMC will need to be mindful of the extended notice period to terminate the agreement without cause.
2. Alpha Care limits its indemnity obligation to claims that are proximately caused by the negligent or intentional acts or omissions of Alpha Care, it officers, employees, and agents.
• The County standard contract general indemnity provision requires the contractor to indemnify, defend, and hold County harmless from third party claims arising out of the acts, errors or omissions of any person.
• Potential Impact: Alpha Care’s indemnity obligation is more limited in the agreement compared to the standard County general indemnity obligation. In the event a claim arises that falls outside the scope of Alpha Care’s limited indemnity obligation, the County may be solely liable for the costs of defense and damages.
3. The County is required to indemnify Alpha Care for claims that are proximately caused by the negligent acts or omissions of the County, its officers, employees, and agents.
• The County standard contract does not include any indemnification or defense by the County of a contractor.
• Potential Impact: By agreeing to indemnify Alpha Care, 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 Alpha Care without such limitations and the County would be responsible to defend and reimburse Alpha Care for costs, expenses, and damages.
4. The agreement does not contain the standard contract provisions regarding Government Code section 84308 (Senate Bill 1439) and the disclosure of campaign contributions to a member of the Board of Supervisors or other County elected officer.
• Under the County standard contract, the contractor must state whether it has disclosed campaign contributions of more than $250 to any member of the Board of Supervisors or other County elected officer and complete a form providing additional information.
• Potential Impact: The County may have difficulty gathering information about campaign contributions made by Alpha Care.
5. The agreement does not contain all of the standard County insurance provisions, including adding the County as an additional insured and the waiver of subrogation.
• The County standard contract requires contractors to carry appropriate insurance at limits and under conditions determined by the County's Risk Management Department.
• Potential Impact: The agreement does not include all of the County standard insurance requirements. This means that the County has no assurance that Alpha Care will be financially responsible for claims that may arise, which could result in expenses to the County.
ARMC recommends approval of the agreement, including the non-standard terms, as it will ensure reimbursement to the County for outpatient services provided at ARMC to Medi-Cal members assigned to Alpha Care, and allow ARMC to operate in a fiscally-responsible and business-like manner.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Charles Phan, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 29, 2023; Risk Management (Victor Tordesillas, Director, 386-3165) on July 7, 2023; ARMC Finance (Chen Wu, Finance and Budget Officer, 580-3165) on July 14, 2023; Finance (Jenny Yang, Administrative Analyst, 387-5423) on July 17, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on July 18, 2023.