To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Ori Tzvieli, Interim Health Services Director
Report Title: Temporary Hire of County Retiree Waiver of 180-day Sit-Out Period in the Health Services Department
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. CONSIDER waiving the 180-day "sit-out period" for Terri Lieder, Director of Provider Relations and Credentialing, in Health Services.
2. FIND that the appointment of Ms. Lieder is necessary to fill a critically needed position; and
3. APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the hiring of County retiree, Terri Lieder, as a temporary County employee as a Health Services Administrator - Level C for the period of June 12, 2025, through June 11, 2026, as recommended by the Interim Chief Executive Officer, CCHP.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Salary costs are included within the Department's budget. The total cost for the requested period is approximately $59,150.21.
BACKGROUND:
The Public Employee Pension Reform Act of 2013 requires that active members who retire on or after January 1, 2013, must wait 180 days after retirement before returning to work as a temporary employee. The Act also allows the Board, based on a finding that the appointment is necessary to fill a critically needed position, to waive the 180-day "sit-out" period.
Ms. Lieder retired from her position of Director of Provider Relations and Credentialing on April 1, 2025. She was originally hired May 1, 2001, and at time of retirement, she had almost 25 years of County service.
Prior to her retirement, Ms. Lieder served as CCHP’s Director of Provider Relations, Credentialing, and Contracting, where she played a vital role in supporting the maintenance of our provider network. She was instrumental in maintaining strong relationships with our provider partners, ensuring that all contracted providers were appropriately credentialed and recredentialed, and leading the negotiation and management of provider contracts. She also ensured departmental compliance with critical regulatory requirements from both the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC).
As CCHP prepares for the launch of our Medicare-Medi-Cal Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) in January 2026, we are entering a new phase that brings significantly more complex regulatory requirements and oversight. Ensuring that our provider relations, credentialing, and contracting infrastructure is scaled and aligned with these Medicare-specific expectations is essential to our success.
Ms. Lieder has extensive experience in leading this department and her prior involvement in early D-SNP planning efforts, the Plan would greatly benefit from her expertise, insight, and familiarity with both the operational landscape and regulatory environment. Returning to the County in the role as a Health Services Administrator - Level C (VANH) she can offer valuable guidance, continuity, and support as the County moves toward full D-SNP readiness.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the network for the D-SNP plan is not up to standard, there is the risk of jeopardizing the entire launch of the program. This would not only constitute a major setback but could also result in non-compliance with the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).