To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Behavioral Health
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Signature Authorization for Mental Health Organizational Provider Services Agreements Regarding the Provision Specialty Mental Health Services to Eligible Medi-Cal Beneficiaries Who Have Been Placed in Community Treatment Facilities, Group Homes, Short-Term Residential Treatment Facilities and Children’s Crisis Residential Programs Outside of Humboldt County
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement template regarding the provision of specialty mental health services to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries who have been placed in community treatment facilities, group homes, short-term residential treatment facilities and children’s crisis residential programs outside of Humboldt County;
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Behavioral Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute mental health organizational provider services agreements that are substantially similar to the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement template, and any and all amendments thereto, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to provide the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit with one (1) fully executed certified copy of the Board order related to this item.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Behavioral Health Fund (1170-424)
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors (“Board”) has authorized the Humboldt County 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 services, which include, without limitation, assessment, individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, case management, crisis intervention, behavioral health plan development, behavioral health rehabilitation, medication support and intensive care coordination services, to all Medi-Cal beneficiaries residing in Humboldt County that meet necessary criteria is, and will remain, the responsibility of DHHS - Behavioral Health.
California Assembly Bill number 1051, signed into law on September 18, 2022, amended certain sections of the California Welfare and Institutions Code. These changes provide that when children needing specialty mental health services are into community treatment facilities, group homes, short-term residential treatment facilities or children’s crisis residential programs that are located outside of the Child’s county of residence, the responsibility for providing such specialty mental health services will no longer be transferred to the county of placement but will remain with the placing county, except in certain situations. Additionally, the Mental Health Plan in the county of original jurisdiction is required to enter into an agreement regarding the provision of the specialty mental health services within thirty (30) days after placement of the child.
Accordingly, DHHS - Behavioral Health recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the DHHS - Behavioral Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute mental health organizational provider services agreements substantially similar to, the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement template regarding the provision of specialty mental health services to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries who have been placed in community treatment facilities, group homes, short-term residential treatment facilities and children’s crisis residential programs outside of Humboldt County, and any and all amendments thereto, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1170-424) |
FY24-25 Projected* |
FY25-26 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$8,500,000.00 |
$8,500,000.00 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$8,500,000.00 |
$8,500,000.00 |
|
Funding Sources (1170-424) |
FY24-25 Projected* |
FY25-26 Projected* |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$8,500,000.00 |
$8,500,000.00 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$8,500,000.00 |
$8,500,000.00 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
DHHS - Behavioral Health currently has Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars allocated for the provision of specialty mental health services to children enrolled in Medicaid. Expenditure appropriations related to the provision of specialty mental health services to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries who have been placed in community treatment facilities, group homes, short-term residential treatment facilities and children’s crisis residential programs outside of Humboldt County will be included the proposed fiscal year 2024-2025 budget for DHHS - Behavioral Health Administration. Specialty mental health services provided to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries who have been placed in community treatment facilities, group homes, short-term residential treatment facilities and children’s crisis residential programs outside of Humboldt County will be billed to Medi-Cal and reimbursed. DHHS - Behavioral Health will be responsible for covering the match portion of any billings that are not covered through the reimbursement process. As a result, the recommended actions will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Approval of the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement template will not impact current staffing levels.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework:
Core Roles: Enforce laws and regulations to protect residents, protect vulnerable populations,
New Initiatives: Build interjurisdictional and regional cooperation
Strategic Plan: N/A
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve, or authorize the DHHS - Behavioral Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute mental health organizational provider services agreements that are substantially similar to the attached mental health organizational provider services agreement template regarding the provision of specialty mental health services to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries who have been placed in community treatment facilities, group homes, short-term residential treatment facilities and children’s crisis residential programs. However, this alternative is not recommended since it will severely limit DHHS - Behavioral Health’s ability to comply with the applicable provisions of the California Welfare and Institutions.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Mental Health Organizational Provider Services Agreement Template Regarding the Provision Specialty Mental Health Services to Eligible Medi-Cal Beneficiaries Who Have Been Placed in Community Treatment Facilities, Group Homes, Short-Term Residential Treatment Facilities and Children’s Crisis Residential Programs Outside of Humboldt County
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: D-15
Meeting of: 5/23/2023
File No.: 23-642