To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Grant Colfax, Health Services Director
Report Title: Payment for Services Provided by Locumtenens.com, LLC
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Auditor-Controller, or designee, to pay $291,454 to Locumtenens.com, LLC, for temporary physician services during peak loads, temporary absences, vacations and emergency situations where additional physician staffing is required at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC), Contra Costa Health Centers, and Detention Centers, for the months of October 2025 through December 2025, as recommended by the Health Services Director.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this payment will result in a one-time expenditure of up to $291,454 and will be funded 100% by Hospital Enterprise Fund I revenues.
BACKGROUND:
CCRMC has an obligation to provide medical staffing services to patients at CCRMC, Contra Costa Health Centers, and Detention Centers. Therefore, the County contracts with temporary help firms to ensure patient care is provided during peak loads, temporary absences, vacations and emergency situations where additional staffing is required. The County has been using this Contractor’s temporary staffing services while fostering a deep understanding of the CCHP organization’s mission, values, and long-term objectives since January 1, 2001.
This Contract is entered into under and subject to the following legal authorities: California Government Code §§ 26227 and 31000. This Contract was approved by Health Services Personnel to ensure there is no conflict with labor relations. CCRMC’s Quality Management, Utilization Management and Contract Monitor Staff meet on a regular basis to ensure monitoring and performance measures in the Contract are upheld. Per Administrative Bulletin 600.3, CCRMC Physician services are exempt from Solicitation requirements.
On January 21, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #26-395-35 with Locumtenens.com LLC, in an amount not to exceed $3,250,000, for the provision of temporary physician staffing services during peak loads, temporary absences, vacations and emergency situations where additional physician staffing is required at CCRMC, Contra Costa Health Centers, and Detention Centers, for the period January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. This Contract included services provided by represented classifications and the County has met its obligations with the respective labor partner(s).
On September 9, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract Amendment #26-395-36 with Locumtenens.com LLC., effective September 1, 2025, to include additional temporary physician services during peak loads, temporary absences, vacations and emergency situations where additional physician staffing is required at CCRMC, Contra Costa Health Centers, and Detention Centers with no change in the payment limit or term.
Due to an increase in temporary physician staffing services needed by Contra Costa Health, additional services were requested by the County without sufficient time to amend the Contract. Contractor provided these services in good faith, which exceeded the payment limit by $291,454.
Therefore, the County has determined that Locumtenens.com, LLC, is entitled to payment for the reasonable value of their services under the equitable relief theory of quantum meruit. That theory provides that where a person has been asked to provide services without a valid contract, and the provider does so to the benefit of the recipient, the provider is entitled to recover the reasonable value of those services. As such, the Department recommends that the Board authorize the Auditor-Controller to issue a one-time payment not to exceed $291,454 to Locumtenens.com, LLC.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this payment is not approved, the Contractor will not be paid for services requested by HSD and provided by Contractor provided in good faith.