SV-2026-003 Philanthropic Patient Funding Services RFI UCSD Health

Agency:	University of California
State:	California
Type of Government:	State & Local
Posted Date:	Feb 25, 2026
Due Date:	Mar 6, 2026
Original Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

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REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

RFI#: SV-2026-003

UC San Diego Health’s Philanthropic Patient Funding Services RFI

RELEASE DATE: Wednesday, February 25th, 2026

RESPONSE DUE DATE: Friday, March 6th, 2026 by 4:00 PM, PT

Buyer Contact:

Email:

Lauren DeLeon

lvdeleon@health.ucsd.edu

Philanthropic Patient

Funding RFI

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RFI #: SV-2026-003

1. INTRODUCTION

UC San Diego Health (UCSDH) is one of five academic medical centers within the 10-campus University of California

system. Collectively known as UC Health, these medical centers comprise the fourth largest health care delivery

system in California and train nearly 50 percent of the state’s medical students and medical residents.

As part of a public trust organization, UC Health serves as a safety net for individuals in need. Nearly 60 percent of UC

patients are covered by Medicare, Medi-Cal or lack health insurance. To fulfill our mission, UC San Diego Health

currently maintains a three-campus strategy, integrating research, teaching and clinical care at locations in Hillcrest

and La Jolla. Each medical complex supports acute inpatient care and a spectrum of outpatient primary and specialty

medical and surgical services, including ambulatory and emergency patient care.

Our three hospitals operate under one license with a current combined capacity of 808 beds: UC San Diego Medical

Center in Hillcrest (390 beds), Jacobs Medical Center (364 beds), UC San Diego East Campus Medical Center (306

beds) and Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center (54 beds). Revenue Cycle, within the Finance Division oversees a net patient

revenue of $2.8 Billion in Hospital services annually.

2. PROJECT GOALS

UC San Diego Health (UCSDH), acting through its Revenue Cycle Department, is soliciting proposals for Philanthropic

Patient Funding Services. The goal of these services is to connect additional patients with support to reduce patients’

out-of-pocket costs through co-pay assistance, free drug/drug replacement, foundation grants, and similar sources

that will help cover the costs of care.

UC San Diego Health reserves the right to award all, part or none of the item(s) covered by this RFI and to contract in

the best interests of UC San Diego Health.

Vendors are advised that University will not guarantee any minimum utilization or expenditures with any vendor

during the proposed contract period.

3. REQUEST OVERVIEW

3.1. CURRENT ENVIRONMENT

UC San Diego Health currently performs some of these services in-house, but with less consistency than the Health

System would expect a vendor partner to perform.

3.2. REQUESTED INFORMATION

The goal of this Request for Information (“RFI”) is to understand the current marketplace and identify vendors

that offer the following:

A. Services Offered

•

Vendor will conduct screening to identify and/or engage those patients who are eligible or potentially

eligible for Philanthropic Patient Funding Services.

•

Vendor shall also perform daily screening of the schedule to identify patients that may be eligible for

Philanthropic Patient Funding Services.

Philanthropic Patient

Funding RFI

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RFI #: SV-2026-003

•

Vendor will work with UC San Diego Health’s staff to request permission from the patient to seek

Philanthropic Patient Funding on their behalf and obtain an executed patient consent form.

•

Vendor will provide guidance and assistance to patients to offset the out-of-pocket cost of treatment for

patients through philanthropic funding options, including co-pay assistance, premium assistance, and

Patient Assistance Programs.

•

Retroactive Patient Balances

a. Vendor will identify patients who have existing and outstanding balances that are eligible for

retroactive assistance, obtain assistance for such patients, and secure payment through a range of

philanthropic programs to mitigate or cover the patient’s balance.

•

Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs)

a. Vendor will assist indigent uninsured and under-insured patients with obtaining free medication

through manufacturer Patient Assistance Programs to eliminate financial loss to UCSDH, wherever

possible.

•

Free Medication / PAP Maintenance: As part of providing Patient Assistance Program assistance to UCSDH

patients, vendor shall

a. Track, order, and assist in maintaining free medications obtained on behalf of the patient and UCSDH,

including medication replacement after infusion, and obtaining medication prior to infusion;

b. Perform monthly review of all instances of infused medication to self-pay patients;

Prepare and submit medication replacement requests;

d. Advise pharmacy team of upcoming shipments of free medication and associated patient and

treatment dates; and

e. Perform end-of-year submissions for new approvals in order to continue the program into the new

year.

•

Copay & Foundation Payment Process: Vendor shall perform the following when providing copay or

foundation program assistance for UCSDH patients who have been identified as being eligible for vendor’s

program:

a. Perform weekly checks of patient explanation of benefits (“EOBs”) to determine if any out-of-pocket

costs are reported;

b. Submit EOBs and all other necessary reports to the philanthropic organization;

Follow up with copay/foundation program for payment until paid;

d. Perform end-of-year submissions for new approval in order to continue the program into the new

year; and

e. Report payments via check number, copay card or EFT to a designated billing representative of UC San

Diego Health for posting.

B. System Integration

•

Vendor will be expected to primarily work and note accounts within Epic Electronic Medical Record (EMR).

C. Reporting

•

Weekly reporting of all available medications and dates of service for all secured grants and commercial

copay platforms. This report will be made ‘live’ to UCSDH for access at any time.

•

Monthly reporting to UCSDH’s billing department of all funding received or arriving by check to ensure

accurate recording of payment against correct patient and date of service.

•

Regular auditing of secured granting to ensure that all funding remains viable and active.

•

Weekly reporting on granting status and usage to date.

•

Provide assistance and support to UCSDH’s billing staff as needed to maintain advocacy retrieval.

Philanthropic Patient

Funding RFI

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RFI #: SV-2026-003

D. Implementation

• Vendor should provide an implementation plan.

E. Support & Maintenance

• Vendor should offer customer support, as needed.

F. InfoSec, Compliance & Privacy Considerations

Vendor must be compliant with the following:

• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

4. INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDEES

4.1. PROCUREMENT OFFICER

The Procurement Officer designated below is responsible for the conduct of this procurement.

Lauren DeLeon

Senior Sourcing Manager

E-Mail: lvdeleon@health.ucsd.edu

All communications, including any requests for clarification, concerning this RFI must be submitted to this

Procurement Officer via the Discussion Forum of this RFI within calUsource.

Respondees shall not contact any other employees of UC San Diego Health regarding this RFI.

4.2. KEY DATES

UC San Diego Health will make every effort to adhere to the schedule below. However, UC San Diego Health

reserves the right to modify these activities and dates at any time, at its sole discretion, and without prior

warning.

Table 1. Intended schedule for this RFI

RFI MILESTONES

RFI Issued via calUsource

RFI Response Submission Deadline

All times are quoted in Pacific Time (PT)

Wednesday, February 25th, 2026

Friday, March 6th, 2026 by 4:00 PM

4.3. SUBMISSION DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION

Respondees must submit the proposal package through the UC Public Bid Site, calUsource, no later than the

date and time indicated in Section 4.2 Key Dates (“RFI Response Submission Deadline”).

When submitting through calUsource, submissions will be time stamped with the time at the completion of

the submission process, not the beginning. Please note the attachment uploading process within calUsource

may take much longer than expected. Respondees are strongly encouraged to complete and submit their

proposal in calUsource well before the RFI due date, as the system prohibits submissions after the specified

closing time.

Philanthropic Patient

Funding RFI

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RFI #: SV-2026-003

For instruction on how to respond, refer to the Supplier Bidding Guide under the Guidelines section of the UC

San Diego Health of California Public Bid Site, calUsource.

4.4. PROPOSAL PACKAGE CONTENTS AND REQUIREMENTS

This RFI contains a dedicated form for completion, provided as Exhibit A – Mandatory Questions and Cost Proposal to

this RFI.

Respondees should take care to submit the requested information per this format. Respondees may attach

additional information in circumstances where it is relevant or beneficial.

Respondees are kindly asked to refrain from attaching extraneous marketing materials that are not relevant to

the subject matter of this RFI.

4.5. INQUIRIES, CLARIFICATIONS, REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION

Respondees shall submit All INQUIRES, CLARIFICATIONS, and REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION through

CalUsource.

Respondees are expected to promptly review the Request for Information (RFI) document, including all of the

attachments, exhibits, and addendum. If discrepancies, inconsistencies, or omissions are found, the Respondee

shall immediately notify the Procurement Officer. If the Respondee has questions or requires clarification of the

scope of work, the Health System’s intent, or any aspect of this RFI, they shall immediately notify the

Procurement Officer. All questions, inquiries, clarifications, must be sent via calUsource Discussion Forum by

the due date identified in Section 4.2 Key Dates. The Procurement Officer may respond to any such requests by

issuing written addenda. Verbal clarifications shall not be binding. Respondees should not rely upon any

statements made by any person other than the Procurement Officer.

4.6. ADDENDA AND COMMUNICATION

UC San Diego Health shall communicate through CalUsource.

The Health System may make changes to the RFI and/or provide clarification to information stated within the RFI by

way of issuance of written addenda. All addenda issued prior to the Response Submission Deadline will become part

of this RFI and will be deemed to have been considered by the Respondee in its proposal.

5. ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

5.1. PROPOSAL PREPARATION COSTS

Respondees will bear all costs incurred in the preparation and submission of the Proposal and related documentation,

including Respondee presentations to UC San Diego Health. If the Respondee is the apparent awardee, Respondee will

bear its own costs in negotiating and finalizing an agreement with UC San Diego Health.

Philanthropic Patient

Funding RFI

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RFI #: SV-2026-003

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

SV-2026-003 Philanthropic Patient Funding Services RFI UCSD Health

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