REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
April 7, 2026
FROM
JANKI PATEL, Acting Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Non-Financial Memorandum of Understanding with Inland Empire Health Plan for Health and Wellness Programming
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve non-financial Memorandum of Understanding with Inland Empire Health Plan, including non-standard terms, for the Department of Public Health to provide health and wellness programming to health plan members, effective upon execution through March 31, 2030, and terminating and superseding Contract No. 23-243.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or the Director of the Department of Public Health to execute any subsequent non-substantive amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Department of Public Health to transmit all non-substantive amendments to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Janki Patel, Acting Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
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). The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is non-financial in nature and does not create any new fiscal obligation for the County. The cost of providing health and wellness programming will be funded by the State of California through existing Department of Public Health (DPH) grants, depending on the subject matter and intended audience.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DPH has offered health education programming in partnership with IEHP since 2015. The recommended MOU enables both agencies to continue to provide this programming to the community, increasing nutrition awareness and improving participants’ overall health and well-being.
DPH will provide health education services at IEHP Community Wellness Centers located in San Bernardino and Victorville. Topics of education will include nutrition and physical activity, maternal health and breastfeeding support, oral health, senior health, and sexually transmitted infection and opioid use prevention. Healthcare providers and local health departments are encouraged to collaborate and make their communities healthier by educating the public on various health topics and providing resources.
On March 28, 2023 (Item No. 38), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved County Contract No. 23-243 with IEHP, including non-standard terms, for DPH to provide health education presentations, effective upon execution through December 31, 2026.
The recommended MOU updates the scope of services and terminates and supersedes County Contract No. 23-243.
The recommended MOU includes non-standard terms that differ from the standard County contract terms:
1. The County is required to indemnify IEHP against all claims and losses.
• The County standard contract does not include any indemnification or defense by the County of a contractor.
• Potential Impact: By agreeing to indemnify IEHP, 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 IEHP without such limitations and the County could be responsible to defend and reimburse IEHP for costs, expenses, and damages.
2. The Agreement does not require IEHP to meet the County’s insurance standards as required pursuant to County Policies, 11-05, 11-07 and 11-07SP.
• County policy requires contractors to carry appropriate insurance at limits and under conditions determined by the County’s Risk Management Department and as set forth in County policy.
• Potential Impact: The County has no assurance that IEHP will be financially responsible for claims that may arise under the Agreement, which could result in significant expenses to the County.
DPH recommends approval of this MOU, including non-standard terms, to renew the partnership between DPH and IEHP and continue providing a variety of educational health programs to the community. Recommendation No. 2 would allow the Director of DPH to execute non-substantive amendments to the MOU, including changes to the programming topics, schedule of classes, and service locations, subject to review by County Counsel. Delegation of authority would provide flexibility for DPH and IEHP to potentially expand offerings for the community as opportunities arise.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on March 12, 2026; Risk Management (Stephanie Pacheco, Staff Analyst II, 386-9039) on March 18, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Iliana Rodriguez, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on March 19, 2026.