RFP Consulting Services Cardiologist (26-27047)

The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), Healthcare Analytics Branch (HAB), seeks consulting cardiologist services to assist California Cardiovascular Outcomes Reporting Program (CCORP). The mandate for this program is outlined in Health and Safety Code (HSC) § 128745-128750 and requires HCAI to publish risk-adjusted outcomes reports annually for the approximately 124 California licensed hospitals that perform CABG surgery.

The primary data source for these reports is clinical data submitted by hospitals to CCORP using an online reporting tool, Cardiac Online Reporting for California (CORC). Most of the data elements collected by CCORP draw on a subset of data elements collected by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD). HCAI seeks a cardiologist to provide consultation on the STS ACSD and CCORP data elements and interpretation of patient medical record information.

Contractor shall provide consultation to HAB staff within three days of request. HAB staff will submit questions regarding clinical risk factors via phone or email and provide the necessary documentation for contractor to respond. Consultation will be primarily during the data submission periods, but will also be requested throughout the year, with an estimated need of 60 to 80 hours annually.

Consultation will be in the following areas:

• Provide interpretation of the STS ACSD and CCORP clinical data element definitions as applied to decisions made about specific cardiac surgical cases.
• Assess, interpret, and evaluate operative reports and other medical records documentation submitted to HCAI by hospitals and surgeons.
• Provide clinical perspective as needed for statistical modeling development for outcomes.
• Assist HAB staff with questions from medical chart auditors and other cardiologists, as needed, in the subject matter listed above in (1) through (3).
• Assist HAB with other cardiac clinical questions and/or information as needed.
• As available, attend up to two Clinical Advisory Panel meetings annually. Participation may be virtual to provide guidance and clarification to panel regarding cardiac data element coding practices, data analysis, and risk-adjusted model building, and other issues identified by HCAI.
• Provide program recommendations to HCAI when appropriate.

Consultant will provide the following training:

• Provide an annual focused instructional training session on CCORP data element definitions for the independent audit team prior to their reabstraction of patient records for a sample of hospitals. This training may be virtual for up to two hours and will take place in August or September of each year.
• When a major CCORP version change is implemented, create up to two 90-minute training videos explaining the data element definitions and providing clinical interpretation and examples.
• When a major CCORP version change is implemented, conduct up to two virtual live 60-minute questions and answer sessions with CCORP data abstractors on data element definitions.

Contractor Deliverables

• Provide responses to questions on data element questions and coding for complex CABG cases from HAB staff. May be via email, phone, or in person.
• Provide input and edits on CCORP training materials. May be via email, phone, or in person.
• Provide training virtual (via recorded video or live webinar).
• Provide adequate proof of compliance with HCAI Background Check Policy for contractors who will have access to medical information pursuant to HSC §127011.

**Contract Term:** The contract term will be from December 18, 2026, or upon approval, through December 17, 2029.

All proposals must be emailed to pcs@hcai.ca.gov by **November 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. PDT**. All proposals shall include the documents identified in Section 6.1, as identified in *Required Attachment Checklist*. Proposals that do not include the Required Attachments and Attachment 1 shall be deemed non-responsive and will be rejected.

Minimum Qualifications (required)

• Bidder must have a current California medical license (in good standing).
• Bidder must provide documentation of board certification in Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology, or Cardiovascular Surgery.
• Bidder must have a minimum of three years reviewing medical record documentation.
• Bidder must have a minimum of two years of experience with interpreting data elements for submission to STS National Database, National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR), or relevant clinical registry.

Award, if made, will be to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. Credentials and Experience Assessment is worth 50 points and Cost Assessment is worth 50 points, for a MAXIMUM of 100 points.

If contractor requires on-site inspection of the premises, please contact the PCS Analyst.