To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Payment for services provided by Health Care Interpreter Network
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Auditor-Controller, or designee, to pay Health Care Interpreter Network in an amount not to exceed $351,761.78, for providing qualified foreign language and sign language interpretation services via video conferencing in good faith for the period January, May, and June 2023, as recommended by the Health Services Director.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This payment in an amount of $351,761.78 is funded 100% by 100% Hospital Enterprise Fund I.
BACKGROUND:
Individuals with limited English proficiency are at risk of receiving lower quality health treatment because of language barriers. When an interpreter is not readily available patients may rely on family members, even children, to interpret health treatment instructions. California law has required hospitals to provide language assistance since 1990. The Healthcare Interpreter Network’s system will allow physicians at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Contra Costa Health Centers and various Health Services Divisions to use a software program to route calls to a video conferencing device allowing in-house interpreters and interpreters at other hospitals or remote locations to be connection within seconds to a patient. The County has contracted with Healthcare Interpreter Network for these services since 2009.
On June 8, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #23-457-18 with Health Care Interpreter Network, in the amount not to exceed $1,577,500 for the provision of consulting and technical assistance on the Healthcare Interpreter Network System including, but not limited to: providing qualified foreign language and sign language interpretation services via video conferencing, for the period from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023.
Due to a higher anticipated volume of service, there are insufficient funds to cover the services provided by the contractor in an amount of $351,761.78. Therefore, the county has determined that Health Care Interpreter Network 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. The contractor has provided services at the request of the county after the original contract payment limit had been reached. The Department cannot pay contractor for services rendered that exceed the contract limits. As such, the Department recommends that the Board authorize the Auditor-Controller to issue a one-time payment in an amount not to exceed $351,761.78 to Health Care Interpreter Network.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this contract is not approved, contractor will not be paid foreign language and sign language interpretation services rendered in good faith.
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I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. |
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ATTESTED: |
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Monica Nino, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors |
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By: |