REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
July 14, 2020
FROM
CORWIN PORTER, Interim Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Memorandum of Understanding with Inland Empire Health Plan for COVID-19 Related Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 2, effective July 17, 2020, to the Memorandum of Understanding (Agreement No. 20-155) between the County of San Bernardino, Department of Public Health and Inland Empire Health Plan to provide nurse support, advice, and guidance regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), extending the term through May 17, 2021, and accept one-time grant revenue in the amount of $100,000 to provided needed care at the Federally Qualified Health Centers.
(Presenter: Corwin Porter, Interim Director, 387-9176)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Due to the emergent and uncertain nature of COVID-19, billing and reimbursement by state, federal, or other sources is currently unknown and, therefore, both parties have agreed to discuss reimbursement for services provided by Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) at a later date. To support the Department of Public Health (DPH), which serves a large portion of IEHP’s members, IEHP will provide a one-time grant in the amount of $100,000. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2020-21 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On March 24, 2020 (Item No. 67), the Board of Supervisors (Board) ratified the Chief Executive Officer’s execution of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County of San Bernardino Department of Public Health and IEHP to provide accurate and timely information to its residents by providing nurse support, advice and guidance regarding COVID-19 for the period of March 19, 2020 through May 17, 2020. Under the terms of the MOU, IEHP provides registered nurses to take calls addressing concerns from San Bernardino County residents and will provide information, clinical advice and guidance regarding resources related exclusively to COVID-19. The item also granted approval to delegate authority to the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors or Chief Executive Officer to renew the MOU for an additional sixty days upon written confirmation and agreement by both parties. Amendment No. 1, to extend the agreement, was executed on May 17, 2020, and ratified by the Board on June 9, 2020 (Item No. 25).
Approval of the recommended item (Amendment No. 2), extends the term through July 17, 2021, provides additional support from IEHP, and adds language for the provision of reimbursement based on CARES funding. The amendment also includes a one-time COVID-19 Community Grant, in the amount of $100,000, to deliver appropriate and needed care to IEHP members being served through the four Federally Qualified Health Centers. This will allow IEHP and DPH to continue providing the needed services during this pandemic.
The COVID-19 virus originated in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and began spreading, initially, within China and then to other countries. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak to be a “public health emergency of international concern”. This was followed on January 31, 2020 by the United States (US) Human Services Secretary declaring a public health emergency. Cases internationally, within the US and within California (as evidenced by the Governor’s Proclamation) continue to rise.
On March 4, 2020, the State of California declared a state of emergency as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak due to the rising number of confirmed cases and anticipated complications for those infected, including potential deaths. On March 10, 2020, the County Public Health Officer declared a local health emergency to help ensure county government and the public were prepared for the possibility that COVID-19 will appear within the county.
On March 10, 2020 (Item No. 75), the County proclaimed the existence of a local emergency within San Bernardino County resulting from COVID-19, which causes infectious disease resulting in symptoms of fever, coughing and shortness of breath with outcomes ranging from mild to severe illness and in some cases, death.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Jennifer Mulhall-Daudel, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on June 16, 2020; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 16, 2020; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on June 17, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on June 17, 2020.