Title
Public Health Department recommending Chairman be authorized to sign Agreement 566-PHD0207 with Barton Healthcare System for a term through September 29, 2008 to participate in the development and implementation of a health information technology system to support the El Dorado County Safety Net Technology Project.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve.
FUNDING: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Blue Shield Foundation of California, and First 5 of El Dorado Grants
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
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Total Estimated Cost |
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$667,100 |
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Funding |
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Budgeted |
$667,100 |
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New Funding |
$ |
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Savings |
$ |
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Other |
$ |
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Total Funding Available |
$667,100 |
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Change To Net County Cost |
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$0 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: County will pay Barton a not to exceed amount of $692,100 through the term of the contract ending September 29, 2008. Specifically, for services provided under this agreement, Barton will invoice the County at the rate of $100/hour, inclusive of all labor, overhead, travel, and administrative expenses. The total amount of all services provided shall not exceed $299,600 for the term. The remaining balance of the contract, $367,500, shall be used to purchase technology (e.g., software, hardware, servers, licenses, application hosting, etc.) and other related equipment. Funding will come from the AHRQ, Blue Shield, and First 5 grants. There is no net County cost.
Services $299,600
Technology and Equipment $367,500
Total $667,100
Background: The Public Health Department has taken the lead on the Project, which brings health care organizations in the County together, integrating systems of care administratively, clinically, financially, and technologically with the goal to strengthen the health care delivery system particularly directed to the poor and underserved. Two grants have been received in support of this effort, including funding from First 5.
Public Health collaborated with Marshall Medical Center in seeking a Department of Health and Human Services AHRQ Grant entitled, "El Dorado County Safety Net Technology Project/ACCESS El Dorado." The grant has been awarded, and Marshall Medical Center is the Fiscal Agent. $1,491,986 in funding from this grant is being transferred to the Public Health Department via a separate agreement with Marshall, approved by the Board on May 26, 2006, to perform the majority of the scope of services. Additionally, the Department received grants in the amount of $200,000 and approximately $90,000 from Blue Shield and First 5, respectively, to engage in similar activities. The Department will use those grants as supplement funding for this agreement.
Grant stipulations allow for services to be subcontracted out for health related technology projects.
Reason for Recommendation: Barton has demonstrated to the Department a desire to be actively involved in the development and organization of the Project and has indicated that it can perform several services, crucial to the Project, at a lower cost than would otherwise be possible if carried out by the Department. In essence, more can be accomplished with the resources available, directly benefiting the County. Furthermore, because of difficulties in moving the Project forward, time to complete the AHRQ grant objectives has diminished significantly. The Department and its consultants are moving quickly to keep the Project on track but Barton's help will be needed. Given the time constraints of the grant, the potential cost savings, and Barton's experience managing technology projects of this nature, the Department feels that it is in the best interest of the County, and in achieving the goals of the Project, to utilize Barton's services.
Specifically, Barton will purchase technology and provide services to achieve the following Project objectives:
1. Implement a networked Care Pathways Program to provide a medical home and improved health services to low income and/or publicly insured El Dorado County residents.
2. Purchase and implement a countywide Master Patient Identifier (MPI), necessary infrastructure that will be used along with connectivity application to provide sharing of patient authorized clinical information.
3. Develop the necessary interfaces to those applications used by providers of medical services in the eastern half of El Dorado County (Barton Hospital, Barton Community Clinic, Public Health Department, Mental Health Department) and extend the basic Health Information Exchange (HIE) system to all interested providers.
Action to be taken following Board approval: Chair to sign three (3) copies of the attached agreement with Barton, Board Clerk's Office to return two (2) originally signed copies to the Department, Department to distribute as appropriate.
Contact: Dan Buffalo