To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Grant Colfax, Health Services Director
Report Title: Contract 77-189-3 with Sojourn Hospice & Palliative Care - East Bay, LLC (dba Bristol Hospice East Bay)
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to execute on behalf of the County Contract #77-189-3 with Sojourn Hospice & Palliative Care - East Bay, LLC (dba Bristol Hospice East Bay), a limited liability company, in an amount not to exceed $750,000, to provide hospice and palliative care services for Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP) members and County recipients for the period November 1, 2025 through October 31, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this Contract will result in contractual service expenditures of up to $750,000 over a two-year period and will be funded 100% by CCHP Enterprise Fund II revenues.
BACKGROUND:
CCHP has an obligation to provide certain hospice and palliative care services for its members under the terms of their Individual and Group Health Plan membership contracts with the County. Hospice care focuses on the care, comfort, and quality of life of a person with a serious illness who is approaching the end of life. Hospice services are performed by Contractor’s doctors, nurses and other health care professionals, including physical, occupational, respiratory and speech therapists. Palliative care is a specialized form of care that provides symptom relief, comfort and support to people living with serious or chronic illnesses. It also provides support to caregivers and those impacted by a loved one’s condition. This Contractor has been a part of the CCHP Provider Network providing these services and fostering a deep understanding of the CCHP organization’s mission, values, and long-term objectives since November 2018.
This Contract is entered into under and subject to the following legal authorities: California Government Code §§ 26227 and 31000; Health and Safety Code § 1451. Health Services Personnel approved this Contract to ensure no conflicts with labor relations. Contractor currently cooperates and participates in CCHP’s Quality Management Program which consists of quality improvement activities to improve the quality of care, services and member experience. Cooperation includes collection and evaluation of performance measurement data and participation in the organization’s clinical and service measure Quality Improvement Programs. These contracted services were determined to be exempt from Administrative Bulletin 600.3, solicitation requirements by the Public Works Department’s Purchasing Division.
In May 2023, the Purchasing Services Manager executed Contract #77-189-2 with Sojourn Hospice & Palliative Care - East Bay, LLC, in an amount not to exceed $100,000, for the provision of hospice and palliative care services for CCHP Members and County recipients for the period November 1, 2023 through October 31, 2025.
Approval of Contract #77-189-3 will allow the Contractor to continue providing hospice and palliative care services for CCHP members and County recipients through October 31, 2027. Contract delay was due to extended negotiation of Contract terms between Division and Contractor.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this Contract is not approved, certain hospice and palliative care services for CCHP members under the terms of their Individual and Group Health Plan membership contracts with the County will not be provided and may cause a delay in services to CCHP members.