REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 5, 2025
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Non-Financial Memorandum of Understanding with Inland Empire Health Plan for Medi-Cal Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve non-financial Memorandum of Understanding with the Inland Empire Health Plan, for preventative care, clinical care, and care coordination for health plan members, for the contract period of August 5, 2025 through August 4, 2030.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or Director of the Department of Public Health to execute subsequent non-substantive amendments, which include changes to the scope of work related to the Memorandum of Understanding, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Department of Public Health to transmit subsequent non-substantive amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Joshua Dugas, Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item is non-financial in nature and does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). While this recommended Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) established which service deliverables are reimbursable by the Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) to the Department of Public Health (DPH), a separate revenue provider agreement with IEHP specific to service provision, rates, and reimbursement will be presented for consideration to the Board of Supervisors (Board) at a later date.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Based on Title XIX of the Social Security Act as outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Medi-Cal beneficiaries are required to choose one of three managed care plans as their health maintenance organization for services. Medi-Cal beneficiaries in San Bernardino County can choose between IEHP, Kaiser Permanente, or Molina Healthcare, Inc. (Molina). Per the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), a MOU is required between DPH and each Managed Care Plan to delineate responsibilities, standards, and services eligible for reimbursement to DPH. DPH has a similar MOU in place with Molina and is currently negotiating an MOU with Kaiser Permanente.
On September 25, 2001 (Item No. 46), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved a non-financial MOU (Contract No. 01-966) with IEHP, specifying the scope and responsibilities between both parties.
On July 10, 2007 (Item No. 73), the Board approved Contract No. 07-530, updating procedures in the areas of family planning and perinatal and pediatric health services in accordance with DHCS guidelines. DPH and IEHP have allowed Contract No. 07-530 to automatically renew each year since.
Approval of the MOU in Recommendation No. 1 will update language from the prior MOU, including the addition of detailed scopes of work for services that are eligible for reimbursement which include screening, diagnosis, counseling, and treatment of tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, HIV, Hepatitis C, and other communicable diseases. These changes are consistent with DHCS guidelines and reflect the current administrative structure of Medi-Cal services offered through IEHP and DPH. The MOU also details services to be provided to IEHP members which relate to family planning, immunizations, perinatal services, California Children’s Services, and the Women’s Infants, and Children program, including the responsibilities of each party, disease reporting requirements, service delivery arrangements, and the method of reimbursement.
The recommended updated non-financial Medi-Cal Services MOU includes a provision to terminate and supersede any prior agreements. Rather than automatically renewing every year, the MOU will be effective for a maximum of five years, from August 5, 2025 through August 4, 2030.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 15, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Iliana Rodriguez, Administrative Analyst, 387-4205) on July 17, 2025.