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Approve a 3 year contract with Jackson & Coker for up to $1,500,000 to provide locum tenens primary care providers to the County’s Family Health Services Clinics from February 11, 2020 through February 10, 2023; and Authorize the County Administrator to execute the agreement
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Published Notice Required? Yes _____ No __X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _____ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health & Social Services recommends that the Board approve a 3 year contract with Jackson & Coker for $1,500,000 to provide locum tenens primary care providers to the County’s Family Health Services Clinics from February 11, 2020 through February 10, 2023; and Authorize the County Administrator to execute the agreement.
SUMMARY:
Jackson & Coker provides locum tenens primary care medical providers to clinics upon request and availability. Circumstances arising from ongoing vacancies in medical professional staffing in the County’s Family Health Services Clinics have resulted in the need for the requested contract. The services provided by Jackson & Coker will help to fill primary care coverage gaps where sufficient permanent staff is not currently available and allow Health & Social Services to maintain continuity of care and optimize patient flow in the Family Health Services Clinics.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no additional County General Fund impact associated with the requested contract approval. The FY2019/20 costs of up to $250,000 are included in the department’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget and the remaining future years’ costs will also be included in the department’s budget. Funding to cover the cost associated with the contract is provided through Federally Qualified Health Center billing revenue and 1991 Public Health Realignment.
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Jackson & Coker is a locum tenens agency that provides physician healthcare placement services. The contract with Jackson & Coker will be used to engage locum tenens physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants to provide professional healthcare services in the County’s Family Health Services Clinics during periods of staffing shortages. Locum tenens are licensed physicians and healthcare professionals who are Board Certified or Board Eligible.
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provided millions of Americans with health insurance resulting in an increased number of patients for primary care clinics. The increased demand has made recruiting and filling primary care clinician positions difficult. The provider shortage has impacted Solano County and remains a challenge statewide and nationally. Due to vacancies and the higher demand for services since the implementation of the ACA, the need for temporary staffing has increased, resulting in the need for this contract with Jackson & Coker. The recommended contract will help Health & Social Services to fill the primary care coverage gaps and provide adequate coverage while recruitments for current vacancies continue. The Behavioral Health division currently contracts with Jackson & Coker for locum tenens psychiatrists.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to approve the contract with Jackson & Coker to provide placement for primary care staffing. However, this would reduce the department’s ability to provide adequate coverage in areas of critical medical need.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the contract for legal sufficiency.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION