REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 8, 2022
FROM
WILLIAM GILBERT, Director, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
SUBJECT
Title
Memorandum of Understanding with California Department of Justice for Continued Access to the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve a Memorandum of Understanding with California Department of Justice, California Justice Information Services Division, Justice Data and Investigative Services Bureau Version 3.0A, for access to the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System Information Exchange Web Services, in an annual amount not to exceed $25,000, for the contract term beginning April 12, 2022 through June 30, 2024.
2. Authorize the Epic Systems Manager and Departmental Information Systems Administrator to execute the Confidentiality and Security Compliance Statement and any subsequent amendments related to the Confidentiality and Security Compliance Statement, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Epic Systems Manager and Departmental Information Systems Administrator to transmit copies of the Confidentiality and Security Compliance Statement and any subsequent amendments related to the Confidentiality and Security Compliance Statement to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: William L. Gilbert, Director, 580-6150)
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 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The annual not to exceed amount of $25,000 is funded by State Medi-Cal, Federal Medicare, private insurances, and other departmental revenue. Funding sources may change in the future pending any legislative activity related to the repeal and/or replacement of the Affordable Care Act. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) 2021-22 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) is a database containing information about Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substance prescriptions dispensed to patients, as reported by the dispensing pharmacy, clinic or other dispenser pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 11165(d). The CURES Program grants authorized health care practitioners and pharmacists access to query the CURES database to assist in efforts to ensure appropriate prescribing, ordering, administering, furnishing, and dispensing of controlled substances. This MOU will allow ARMC to integrate CURES with the Epic Electronic Health Records system.
The Confidentiality and Security Compliance Statement is an addendum to the MOU. The terms of the MOU state that failure of the County to timely execute and return any amendments may result in termination of use of the CURES system. Recommendation Nos. 2 and 3 would ensure timely execution of future amendments.
On December 8, 2020 (Item No. 9), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved a previous MOU with the California Department of Justice (DOJ) effective through June 30, 2022. On January 11, 2022 (Item No. 8), the Board approved execution of a version of this MOU, however on January 27, 2022, ARMC received notification from the State that it issued an incorrect version. The State is now requiring that the new version 3.0A be executed. The new version must be in place prior to Epic going live in February.
ARMC recommends approval of this item as this will improve County government operations and provide for the safety, health, and social service needs of County residents by providing the ability to quickly access all patient prescription records of controlled substances across the Country.
PROCUREMENT
Not Applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Bonnie Uphold, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on January 27, 2022; ARMC Finance (Chen Wu, Budget and Finance Officer, 580-3165) on January 27, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Diana Atkeson, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on January 27, 2022.