To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Telemedicine Program Agreement between the Regents of the University of California on behalf of its University of California, Davis School of Medicine and the University of California, Davis Medical Center (collectively UC Davis Health) and Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)- Public Health to Provide Grant-Funded Telemedicine Equipment and Services to Rural and Underserved Communities
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the agreement between DHHS - Public Health and UC Davis Health to help establish a telemedicine program;
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign the Telemedicine Program Agreement;
3. Authorize the Public Health Director to sign future amendments to this agreement thereto after review by County Counsel and Risk Manager; and
4. Grant a waiver of the Nuclear Free Ordinance.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Fund (1175)
DISCUSSION:
California Children’s Services (CCS) is a statewide program that authorizes diagnosis and treatment for financially eligible children with certain physical limitations and chronic health conditions or diseases. In addition, CCS authorizes the purchase of specific medical services and equipment and provides physical and occupational therapy through the Medical Therapy Program (MTP). These services are provided at the Medical Therapy Unit (MTU) located at the Glen Paul School site in Eureka. DHHS - Public Health has been administering the MTP since 1980. The MTP caseload of between 120 and 130 children consists of children with a variety of diagnoses including rheumatoid arthritis, childhood cancers, chronic orthopedic conditions, cerebral palsy and infants with prenatal drug exposure. CCS and the MTP are both state-mandated programs.
UC Davis Health has received grant funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in support of School-Based Tele-Physiatry Assistance for Rehabilitative and Therapeutic Services (STARS) for children with special needs in rural and underserved communities. UC Davis Health wishes to utilize said grant funding to assist DHHS - Public Health MTP in securing, installing and maintaining the equipment necessary as well as assisting in accessing the transmission link necessary for communication to help establish a telemedicine program and to also assist in training personnel and healthcare professionals in the use of the equipment and the transmission link. Through this telemedicine link, the MTP will have access to UC Davis Health physicians practicing in a broad array of clinical specialties.
As part of the UC system that has administrative responsibility for a facility involved in nuclear research, the UC Regents are unable to include the Nuclear Free Humboldt Ordinance in any contract. Therefore, Public Health is requesting that the Board approve a waiver to exclude the language from the agreement.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no direct financial impact to Public Health Funds by entering into this agreement. MTU services through this agreement are to be billed directly to the state. There is no impact to the County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations and providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to approve the agreement with the University of California, Davis. This is not recommended as it would impact the participants of the State mandated MTP’s ability to engage in extended telemedicine services made available through this program.
ATTACHMENTS:
Telemedicine Program Agreement between UC Davis Health and DHHS - Public Health
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: 21-182