REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2026
FROM
JAMES LOCURTO, Director, Transitional Assistance Department
SUBJECT
Title
Professional Services Revenue Agreement with Inland Empire Health Plan to Assist in Providing Enhanced Medi-Cal Eligibility Related Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Professional Services Revenue Agreement, including non-standard terms, with Inland Empire Health Plan for professional services to assist in providing enhanced Medi-Cal eligibility-related services, for a maximum reimbursement amount of $5,798,913, for the period of June 23, 2026 through June 30, 2031.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or Director of the Transitional Assistance Department to execute any subsequent non-substantive amendments, in relation to the revenue agreement, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Transitional Assistance Department to transmit any non-substantive amendments in relation to the revenue agreement to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: James LoCurto, Director, 388-0245)
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). The Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) will receive revenue in the amount of $5,798,913 for the provision of enhanced Medi-Cal eligibility-related services. The costs associated with providing these services will be reimbursed monthly by Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP). The contracted amounts were calculated based on estimated salaries and benefits and ongoing operating costs associated with the provision of these services. Adequate appropriation and revenue is included in TAD’s 2026-27 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
TAD administers public assistance programs in San Bernardino County (County), including Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program serving low-income individuals. Eligibility for Medi-Cal must be reevaluated on an annual basis. Failure to complete and return an Annual Redetermination to TAD results in loss of benefits for individuals and families.
IEHP is a Local Initiative Health Plan formed pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 14000, et seq., through a Joint Powers Agreement between the Counties of Riverside and San Bernardino. IEHP operates in compliance with the Knox-Keene Health Care Services Act of 1975 and arranges and provides managed health care services for low-income adults, families with children, seniors, and people with disabilities throughout the county who are receiving Medi-Cal.
Under the terms of the recommended Professional Services Revenue Agreement (Revenue Agreement), TAD will review Medi-Cal eligibility for IEHP members for the purposes of a) assigning the correct aid code for individuals who are 65 and older with a non-senior aid code, if qualified; b) reviewing eligibility of IEHP Medi-Cal Members who are dually eligible with Medicare and changing the aid code with the most appropriate aid code; c) adding newborns to the mother’s or legal guardian’s existing Medi-Cal case; d) assisting IEHP members who are temporarily disenrolled because of incomplete (or non-returning) annual redeterminations; and e) updating eligibility based on death status, demographic updates, county residence, among other updates. IEHP recognizes that TAD has the authority to make the necessary changes to the members’ Medi-Cal case, if appropriate, and the staff capacity to perform the duties in the agreement.
The Revenue Agreement is IEHP’s standard professional services agreement, negotiated by the parties, with the following non-standard contract terms:
1. Either party may terminate the agreement for convenience, with or without cause, upon 60 days’ written notice.
• The County’s standard contract provisions permit either party to terminate the contract for convenience with 30 days’ written notice.
• Potential Impact: The County must be mindful of the extended notice period when deciding to terminate the Agreement for convenience.
2. The County is required to defend and indemnify IEHP from claims arising out of the performance of services or the omission of any required act of the County under the agreement.
• The County’s standard contract does not require the County to indemnify the other contracting party for any reason.
• Potential Impact: IEHP is not required to defend, indemnify or hold the County harmless from claims arising from the County’s own acts or omissions which may arise during the performance of the contract. Additionally, if the County is sued for any claim based on services provided to IEHP, the County may be solely liable for the costs of defense and damages.
3. The agreement does not require IEHP to meet the County’s insurance standards as required pursuant to County Policy 11-07.
• The County Policy requires contractors to carry appropriate insurance at limits and under conditions determined by the County’s Risk Management Department and set forth in the County standard contract.
• Potential Impact: The contract does not include County standard insurance requirements. This means that the County has limited assurance that IEHP will be financially responsible for claims that may arise during the course of the Agreement.
TAD recommends approval of the Revenue Agreement with IEHP, including the non-standard terms, as through this agreement, TAD and IEHP hope to improve access to care for mutual customers.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services (Lisa Rivas-Ordaz, Contracts Manager, 388-0222) on May 21, 2026; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 26, 2026; Risk Management (Arrissia Beaven, Staff Analyst II, 386-9030) on May 28, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (John Hallen, Principal Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on May 28, 2026.