FROM: Barbara Hannah, Chief Counsel
SUBJECT: Consent of Assignment of SBCERA’s Agreement with First Medical Experts
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Authorize SBCERA’s Chief Executive Officer to execute a consent of assignment of SBCERA Agreement with First Medical Examiners to Exam Works.
body
BACKGROUND:
Staff recommends that the Board authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute the consent of assignment of SBCERA’s existing contract with First Medical Experts (FME) to ExamWorks.
SBCERA has contracted with FME for 17 years for independent medical examinations (IME) for members undergoing the disability retirement process. These examinations are a critical component of SBCERA’s ability to fairly and efficiently process disability retirement applications, ensuring that medical evaluations are conducted by qualified physicians in a timely manner. FME has recently been acquired by ExamWorks, a national provider of independent medical examination and other related services. As a result of this acquisition, SBCERA’s contract with FME, if approved by the Board, will be assigned to ExamWorks to ensure continuity of services. As part of this contract assignment process, SBCERA staff engaged in negotiations and successfully secured a meaningful reduction in rates for IME services. This rate reduction will result in a cost savings for SBCERA while maintaining the quality and efficiency of the IME scheduling and reporting process.
Overall, approving the consent of assignment of SBCERA’s contract from FME to ExamWorks will ensure continuity of services, maintain the integrity of the disability retirement process, and result in a cost savings for SBCERA.
BUDGET IMPACT:
None.
STRATEGIC PLANNING GOAL/OBJECTIVE:
Operational Excellence & Efficiency
STAFF CONTACT:
Barbara Hannah
ATTACHMENTS:
None.