Measure A capital improvements money now up for bids Measure A capital improvements money now up for bids (January 20, 2006)

Axis Community Health hopes for a piece of the pie
by Carol Bogart

Thanks to better sales tax revenue than projected, the county will divvy up $1.2-million among the county's 200+ agencies that provide health services to the poor. Not included in this round of awards will be the Alameda County Medical Center, which includes Highland Hospital.

As approved by voters, three quarters of the sales tax revenue from the recently-imposed half-cent sales tax increase is automatically funneled to the county-owned Medical Center, which includes Highland Hospital in Oakland, Fairmont Hospital and John George Psychiatric Center in San Leandro, and three clinics. The other 25 percent is split up among other clinics and hospitals in Alameda County that provide health services to the un- and under-insured.

Much of the money is allocated for "direct services" only. "Capital improvements" proposals are funded, if approved, for things like ValleyCare's planned Emergency Room expansion--which has already been allocated $1-million in Measure A capital projects money, and the expansion of Axis' Community Health's clinic in Livermore.

Axis, which also has a clinic in Pleasanton, will be in the running for a grant of $15,000-$150,000 when it submits a proposal for a separate capital improvements project. It wants to put in place a "practice management computer system" that will streamline, not only patient records, but its entire business operation. Axis Associate Executive Director Sue Compton said Axis already has $50,000 in place toward the $200,000 system.

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved the RFP (Request for Proposals) earlier this month and notified those eligible this week that the bidding process is now open. Josh Thurman, health and social services specialist in County Supervisor Scott Haggerty's office, said Axis' proposed computerized business management system could qualify as a capital improvement. It does not qualify as "direct" (hands-on) patient care.

The $1-million in Measure A capital improvements money was approved "off the top" for ValleyCare's ER expansion, said Thurman. Even so, the amount falls short of the total needed to get the project off the ground, ValleyCare Foundations President Ken Mercer has said. Mercer adds that the balance needed will be raised by the hospital and that ValleyCare will not participate in the current bidding process. Thurman said Haggerty stands ready to help in that fund raising effort, if asked.

Axis, too, was spared the bidding process when the supervisors granted it $25,000 toward expansion of its Livermore facility, said Thurman, who added confidently, "Their project will get built." He also said Haggerty's office plans to send a letter to Pleasanton and other municipalities suggesting that they contribute available bloc grant funds to help underwrite the costs of health services to residents of their communities who cannot pay.

The county disburses Measure A money to help qualified clinics and hospitals absorb the unpaid bills from direct services to those who are un- and under-insured. Compton said "direct service" grants are automatically renewed each year for the next 14 years - the life of Measure A.

As written and approved by voters, all revenue from the Measure A one-half of one percent sales tax is used to support health care to, often, the working poor. After 75 percent of the money collected has gone directly to the Alameda County Medical Center, the balance is divided up among all other 501C (not-for-profit) Alameda County agencies that provide such services.

For the current bidding, Thurman said the deadline to submit a proposal is Feb. 17. On Feb. 27 proposals will be distributed to a review panel, which will meet again on March 6 and March 13. No later than April 4, the panel will make its award recommendations to the board.

Bidders conferences will be held twice: from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 24 in Union City at the Senior Center, 3997 Alvarado and Niles, and from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Board of Supervisors' chambers in Oakland, 1221 Oak St. Suite 536. Thurman said that, as a good faith measure, those submitting proposals should make the effort to attend.

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