Title
Health and Human Services recommending the Board:
1) Accept funding in the form of a $2,000 annual stipend and the loan of equipment from the Regents of the University of California for participation in their School-Based Tele-Physiatry Assistance for Rehabilitative and Therapeutic Services program;
2) Delegate authority to the Health and Human Services Agency Director to sign Agreement 005275 for the term to start upon final execution through July 31, 2022; as well as any further amendments thereto, that do not decrease the maximum dollar amount or change the term of the Agreement, and contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management; and
3) Authorize the Health and Human Services Agency Director or Agency Chief Fiscal Officer to execute any fiscal and programmatic reports required for said Agreement.
FUNDING: Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, managed by the Regents of the University of California.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The University of California, Davis School of Medicine and the University of California, Davis Medical Center (UC Davis Health) are under the Regents of the University of California, a constitutional corporation under Article IX of the Constitution of the State of California.
UC Davis Health established a telemedicine program that provides health care professionals at outlying hospitals and clinics with access to UC Davis Health physicians practicing in a broad array of clinical specialties. UC Davis Health also applied for and received funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Grant Number 1R01HS025714-01) to support its School-Based Tele-Physiatry Assistance for Rehabilitative and Therapeutic Services (STARS) Program for children with special healthcare needs living in rural and underserved Communities.
The goal of the STARS Program is to implement a new model of care using telemedicine to deliver pediatric physiatrist medical direction to Medical Therapy Units (MTU) located in rural and underserved communities. UC Davis Health expects that this model of care will result in improved access, increased levels of patient-centeredness, a higher quality of care and will simultaneously reduce overall costs of care.
Under the Health and Human Services Agency’s (HHSA) Public Health Division (PH) is the California Children’s Program (CCS). CCS is a state program that helps children with certain diseases, physical limitations, or chronic health conditions Within the CCS program is the Medical Therapy Program (MTP) which provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, and specialist physician oversight to children under 21 years, with diagnosed neuromuscular conditions (e.g. cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy) or chronic severe orthopedic conditions (e.g. arthrogryposis, osteogenesis imperfecta, rheumatoid arthritis).
Under Agreement 005275, UC Davis Health will provide medical therapy teleconference physicians who will give physical assessments of PH CCS clients via video teleconference at PH’s South Lake Tahoe MTU’s office. Additionally, UC Davis Health will purchase and loan to PH the necessary equipment that will allow for the teleconferencing of CCS clients. A sustainability plan for maintenance of the equipment will be discussed after Grant Number 1R01HS025714-01 ends on July 31, 2022.
Lastly, UC Davis Health shall provide an annual stipend of $2,000 for the term of Agreement 005275 to PH in support of the STARS Program, to be used at PH’s discretion.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose to decline Agreement 005275 resulting in impediments to timely critical treatment assessment sessions, reduced clinic efficiency, and increased service delivery cost.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agenda item. The impacts of this agreement are included in the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Budget and will be included in future fiscal year budgets for the term of the Agreement.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to provide one (1) Minute Order to HHSA Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Road.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
County Strategic Goal: “Healthy Communities.”
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director