REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 11, 2024
FROM
TOM BUNTON, County Counsel
ANDREW GOLDFRACH, ARMC Chief Executive Officer, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
SUBJECT
Title
Increase Purchase Order with Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, PC for Specialized Legal Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Authorize the Purchasing Agent to increase Purchase Order No. 4100313694 with Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, PC by $125,000, from $200,000 to $325,000, to continue the provision of specialized health law services relating to payments made to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center by Inland Empire Health Plan (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Tom Bunton, County Counsel, 387-5455)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Expenditures for Purchase Order (PO) No. 4100313694 will be funded by Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) departmental revenue. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in ARMC’s 2023-24 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Approval of this item will allow ARMC and County Counsel to continue to utilize Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, PC (Hooper Lundy) for specialized health law services relating to payments made to ARMC by Inland Empire Health Plan.
Pursuant to Title 1, Division 2, Chapter 19, Section 12.1908 of the County Code, County Counsel is authorized to select and retain through a purchase order specialized counsel for a particular matter not to exceed $200,000 per fiscal year. Contracts for services in excess of that amount require Board approval.
On August 2, 2023, due to the expertise of Hooper Lundy and their experience representing other county healthcare facilities on similar issues, County Counsel requested, and the Purchasing Department (Purchasing) approved PO No. 4100313694 in the amount of $100,000 with Hooper Lundy to provide specialized health law services to ARMC. Hooper Lundy is a law firm that has expertise in healthcare law as it relates to reimbursements and has represented other county health facilities in similar issues involving Medi-Cal managed care plans.
The Agreement with Hooper Lundy was effective as of August 17, 2023 and remains in effect until terminated by either party. The County may terminate the Agreement with 10 days’ notice to Hooper Lundy.
On November 29, 2023, Purchasing approved an increase to the not-to-exceed amount of PO No. 4100313694 by $100,000, from $100,000 to $200,000, which is the maximum amount permitted under County Code.
Approval of the recommended action will authorize the Purchasing Agent to increase PO 4100313694 by $125,000, from $200,000 to $325,000, and allow for the continued provision of specialized health law services relating to payments made to ARMC by Inland Empire Health Plan. Four votes are required per Government Code section 25203, which mandates a two-third vote of all Board members to employ counsel to assist the counties in legal matters.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Charles Phan, Supervising Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 16, 2024; Purchasing (Jessica Barajas, Supervising Buyer, 387-2065) on May 21, 2024; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on May 22, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on May 24, 2024.