To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Behavioral Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Mental Health Organizational Provider Services Agreement with Star View Behavioral Health, Inc. Regarding the Provision of Children’s Specialty Mental Health Treatment Services to Eligible Medi-Cal Beneficiaries Residing in Humboldt County
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement with Star View Behavioral Health, Inc. regarding the provision of children’s specialty mental health treatment services to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries residing in Humboldt County for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021;
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Behavioral Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement with Star View Behavioral Health, Inc. after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one fully executed original copy of the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Behavioral Health Fund
DISCUSSION:
The Board of Supervisors has authorized the Department of Health and Human Services - Behavioral Health (DHHS - Behavioral Health) to operate the County of Humboldt’s Mental Health Plan. The provision of specialty mental health treatment services to all Medi-Cal beneficiaries residing in Humboldt County that meet necessary criteria is, and will remain, the responsibility of DHHS - Behavioral Health. Therefore, since April 1998, DHHS - Behavioral Health has contracted with qualified specialty mental health providers, including Star View Behavioral Health, Inc., who have historically served Medi-Cal beneficiaries residing in Humboldt County. DHHS - Behavioral Health has established a provider network with in-county as well as out-of-county providers for referrals of Medi-Cal beneficiaries residing in Humboldt County to ensure that such beneficiaries have a choice of appropriate providers.
Star View Behavioral Health’s community treatment facility, located in Torrance, California, is a qualified and licensed out-of-county treatment facility that provides a variety of children’s specialty mental health treatment services that are designed to avoid the need for repeated psychiatric hospitalization. Children placed at Star View Behavioral Health’s community treatment facility are stabilized, treated and transitioned to a variety of less restrictive placements, including, without limitation, family, foster families or lower level group homes as part of each child’s long term permanency plan.
DHHS - Behavioral Health has previously contracted with Star View Behavioral Health, Inc. on numerous occasions. On each occasion, Star View Behavioral Health, Inc. has demonstrated expertise in providing a full range of children’s specialty mental health services, including, without limitation, crisis intervention, individual therapy, intensive day treatment, case management, medication support and therapeutic behavioral services to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries residing in Humboldt County. Star View Behavioral Health, Inc. is an out-of-county provider that is only utilized when necessary to serve beneficiaries with the highest level of needs.
The attached mental health organizational provider services agreement will allow eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries residing in Humboldt County to receive children’s specialty mental health treatment services at Star View Behavioral Health’s community treatment facility for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
Accordingly, DHHS - Behavioral Health recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement with Star View Behavioral Health, Inc. regarding the provision of children’s specialty mental health treatment services to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries residing in Humboldt County for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. It is also recommended that the Board authorize the DHHS - Behavioral Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement with Star View Behavioral Health, Inc., after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office, in order to avoid any unnecessary delays in the provision of required children’s specialty mental health treatment services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The attached mental health organizational provider services agreement with Star View Behavioral Health, Inc. has a maximum amount payable of $73,000 for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. However, if local, state or federal funding is reduced or eliminated, the County of Humboldt may reduce the above-referenced maximum amount payable or terminate the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement with Star View Behavioral Health, Inc. in its entirety.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement with Star View Behavioral Health, Inc. have been included in the proposed fiscal year 2020-2021 budget for DHHS - Behavioral Health Administration budget unit 1170-424. Funding for the attached agreement is available through federal Medi-Cal financial participation and state realignment for mental health managed care and early periodic screening diagnosis and treatment. As a result, approval of the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement with Star View Behavioral Health, Inc. will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by ensuring opportunities for improved safety and health, protecting vulnerable populations and providing appropriate levels of services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to approve the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement with Star View Behavioral Health, Inc. regarding the provision of children’s specialty mental health treatment services to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries residing in Humboldt County. However, this alternative is not recommended since it would require DHHS - Behavioral Health to directly provide the specialty mental health treatment services currently being provided by Star View Behavioral Health, Inc., which is not feasible at this time.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Mental Health Organizational Provider Services Agreement with Star View Behavioral Health, Inc. Regarding the Provision of Children’s Specialty Mental Health Treatment Services for Fiscal Year 2020-2021
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-16; C-31; C-11; C-9; C-27; C-17; C-26; C-33
Meeting of: 08/12/14; 06/23/15; 09/15/15; 01/24/17; 06/27/17; 01/09/18; 06/26/18; 06/25/19
File No.: 19-908; 20-583