HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02271996 - C112 �(. C.112
pro:' BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: William B. Walker;M.D.; Health Services Director = . ;. Contra
Costa
DATE: February 27, 1996 County
SUBJECT:
Brookside Hospital - Staff Report
SPECIFIC RMUESr(S)OR RECOMIMIIVDAnON(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
I. Recommended Action:
Accept staff report.
II. Financial Impact:
None.
III. Reasons for Recommendation/Background:
The Health Services Department's representatives have been in conversation with Brookside
Hospital staff regarding the financial problems of the Hospital District. Brookside
representatives have indicated a willingness to meet with us and other West County providers
to discuss a collaborative approach to the health care issues facing West County. The Health
Services Department, in conjunction with the East Bay Hospital Conference, Brookside,
Kaiser,East Bay Hospital, and Doctor's Hospital of Pinole will meet in early March to identify
possible solutions to the West County issue.
Brookside has identified the following County-specific areas as major contributors to their
problem and have requested financial assistance:
1. Admission of Medi-Cal patients sponsored by the County Joint Venture results in
insufficient state reimbursement to offset the costs of running their Obstetrics unit. .
2. The existing County contract payment rate for Basic Adult Care (BAC) patients,
negotiated through the Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP), is insufficient to cover the
costs of the patient population.
3. The non-sponsored/uncompensated care patient, for which no payment is received,
is viewed as a County responsibility which the County has failed to recognize.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: E NO SIGNATURE
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE _OTHER
SIGNATUREM:
ACTION OF BOARD ON February 27, 1996 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Contact Person: Patrick Godley-370-5005
CC: Health Services Director ATTESTED February 27, 1996
County Administrator's Office PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
' r
BY ,DEPUTY
02 - 10
Brookside
Page 2
Brookside has identified the unreimbursed County cost of the Obstetrics Joint Venture at
$600,000;the cost of the BAC patients at $800,000; and the cost of the uninsured patient at
$1.6 million.
The Department believes Brookside is suffering substantial financial difficulties but believes
the County is not the contributor to the problem:
1. Reimbursement levels for the Brookside Obstetrics program is determined through
a negotiated rate between Brookside and the State Medi-Cal Assistance Commission;
the County has no involvement.
2. The County CCHP contract was negotiated in good faith by both parties; all terms of
the contract have been fulfilled and are not in dispute. Brookside as a "preferred
provider" is the only hospital receiving payments for the BAC population.
Brookside's desire is to re-negotiate the contract to increase the total number of days
and dollars covered by the agreement; funding for the program is 100% general fund
dollars.
3. To our knowledge, no county in the state has assumed the open-ended liability of
reimbursement of uncompensated care provided in private sector hospitals. Both
the State Medi-Cal program and the Federal Medicare program recognize the issue
of uncompensated care and have made partial reimbursement to hospitals though
the Disproportionate Share Program (DSH); Brookside is a DSH hospital.
The Department will work diligently with the West County providers to develop a workable
solution to the West County Hospital situation and will report back to the Board of
Supervisors as alternatives are identified.