To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Regents of the University of California on behalf of University of California - San Francisco Medical Center and University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospitals Electronic Health Record Access Participant Agreement
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the attached Electronic Health Record Access Participant Agreement by and between the County of Humboldt and the Regents of the University of California; and
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute the attached Electronic Health Record Access Participant Agreement by and between the County of Humboldt and Regents of the University of California for Fiscal Years 2025-26 through 2035-36; and
3. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments, certifications, attestations and documents directly associated with the attached Electronic Health Record Access Participant Agreement by and between the County of Humboldt and the Regents of the University of California after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities
Strategic Plan Category: 1002- Remove barriers to quality healthcare
DISCUSSION:
The Nursing Division of the County of Humboldt Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health Branch (“DHHS-PHB”) has been administering the California Children’s Services (“CCS”) program locally since 1980. CCS is a mandated statewide program that authorizes diagnosis and treatment services and provides medical case management and physical and occupational therapy services to financially eligible children under age 21 with certain physical limitations and chronic health conditions or diseases.
To make eligibility decisions for their clients, it is necessary for CCS to access medical records from multiple healthcare providers. University of California - San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital are two of the primary medical centers treating children from Humboldt County. The UCSF facilities have established Medical Record Portal (UCSF MD Link) offering secure electronic access to data concerning their patients, via a connection to the internet, and have phased out non-electronic access methods. To be allowed usage of the UCSF MD Link portal, DHHS - PHB CCS has been asked to provide a signed Electronic Health Record Access Participant agreement.
The agreement spells out the confidentiality and other requirements users of the UCSF MD Link portal must adhere to, as they will be accessing Protected Health Information (PHI) held by UCSF MD Link, and it obligates DHHS - PHB to comply with certain terms and conditions pertaining to accessing PHI. This is a one-way exchange of information and UCSF MD Link will not have access under this agreement to protected health information held by DHHS - PHB.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Fund (1175) California Children’s Services (493)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with this agreement.
STAFFING IMPACT:
There is no staffing impact associated with this agreement.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve this Agreement. However, this is not recommended as CCS is a mandated state program and access to the UCSF MD Link portal is necessary for CCS’s ability to make eligibility decisions for clients and to provide medically necessary services to a vulnerable population.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. UCSF MD Link Electronic Health Record Access Participant Agreement
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A