COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Hospital and Clinics

 

DATE:

July 26, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 6, 2002

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Nancy J. Steiger, Chief Executive Officer

 

SUBJECT:

Resolution authorizing the Controller to pay non-contract physicians who provide medical services for San Mateo County General Hospital.

 

Recommendation

Resolution authorizing the Controller to pay non-contract physicians who provide medical services for San Mateo County General Hospital.

 

Background

From time-to-time it is necessary to augment the county contracted physicians with non-contract physicians because there is not sufficient coverage for specialty care. Examples of shortages are: pediatric on-call coverage, gastro-enterology, neurosurgery and dental surgery.

 

Discussion

This resolution will authorize the Controller to pay all on-call specialists, including but not limited to gastroenterologists, neurosurgeons, and dental surgeons who provide emergency backup when no other medical coverage is available, at 60% of their billed inpatient charges and 50% of their billed outpatient charges. Payments to on-call pediatricians shall be the lesser of the physicians' billed charges or the prevailing Medicare Participating Fee Schedule for San Mateo County. These are low volume emergency services which are not available on a 24 hour-basis. For surgical assists, payment is to be made at the prevailing Medicare fee schedule for assists. All services are pre-approved through the Case Management unit of the Hospital.

If on-call specialists are not available, patients needing these services will be required to be transferred to other providers at a considerably higher county expense.

 

Vision Alignment

This agreement keeps the commitment to Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All and goal number 5: Provide residents access to healthcare and preventive care. The agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by continuing to provide healthcare services to county patients.

 

Fiscal Impact

The term is February 1, 2002 through March 31, 2003. Payments under this resolution will not exceed $70,000 for the term. A February start date is necessary to make payment on a pending invoice. Funds are included in the Adopted FY 2002-03 Hospital and Clinics budget.