To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Mental Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Memorandum of Understanding with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC Regarding the Provision of Mental Health Treatment Services at Hospitals Located 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 memorandum of understanding with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC regarding the provision of mental health treatment services at hospitals located in Humboldt County in an amount not to exceed Six Hundred Seventy-Seven Thousand Four Hundred Eighty-Two Dollars ($677,482.00) for the period of November 29, 2022 through June 30, 2025;
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached memorandum of understanding with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC, 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 (1) fully executed original copy of the attached memorandum of understanding with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Behavioral Health Fund (1170)
DISCUSSION:
On December 6, 2021, the California Department of Health Care Services awarded the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services - Behavioral Health (“DHHS - Behavioral Health”) a Mental Health Block Grant: Behavioral Health Response and Rescue Project (“BHRRP”) allocation for the purpose of addressing First Episode Psychosis through early access to mental health professional supports.
On May 24, 2022 (Item K-1), DHHS - Behavioral Health staff presented to your Board on Sempervirens, services, structure and community mental health crisis response, and St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC presented on 5150 impacts to local emergency departments. In mental health crisis situations, if law enforcement or a behavioral health professional has determined an individual needs to be evaluated for involuntary commitment to inpatient psychiatric treatment, the individual must first receive a medical evaluation and clearance and are therefore taken to the emergency room, most often at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Eureka. During the presentations to the Board there was agreement that staffing is needed in hospital emergency departments to assist these individuals in crisis, as well as their families, and that St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC was willing to hire certain mental health professionals if funding was made available. At that time the Board authorized DHHS - Behavioral Health staff to negotiate with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC regarding the allocation and utilization of available grant funding. The attached memorandum of understanding with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC regarding the provision of mental health treatment services at hospitals located in Humboldt County comes to your Board as a result of those negotiations.
The attached memorandum of understanding will allow St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC to hire mental health professionals to provide necessary mental health treatment services to adults and children suffering from mental illness, as described in the BHRRP grant documentation. The result will be better service to individuals in mental health crisis, as well as contributing to a better overall experience for all patients, staff and visiting professionals in hospitals located in Humboldt County.
Accordingly, DHHS - Behavioral Health recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached memorandum of understanding with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC regarding the provision of mental health treatment services at hospitals located in Humboldt County for the period of November 29, 2022 through June 30, 2025. Staff also recommends that the Board authorize the DHHS - Behavioral Health Director, or designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached memorandum of understanding with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC, 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 needed mental health treatment services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The attached memorandum of understanding with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC has a maximum amount payable of Six Hundred Seventy-Seven Thousand Four Hundred Eighty-Two Dollars ($677,482.00) for the period of November 29, 2022 through June 30, 2025. In no event shall the maximum amount paid under the attached memorandum of understanding with St. Joseph Health Northern California exceed One Hundred Ninety-Nine Thousand Two Hundred Sixty Dollars ($199,260.00) for fiscal year 2022-2023 and Two Hundred Thirty-Nine Thousand One Hundred Eleven Dollars ($239,111.00) per fiscal year for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. However, in the event 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 memorandum of understanding with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC in its entirety.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached memorandum of understanding has been included in the approved fiscal year 2022-2023 budget for DHHS - Behavioral Health Administration budget unit 1170-424. Funding for the attached memorandum of understanding with the St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC is available through American Recuse Plan Act and Mental Health Block Grant allocations received by DHHS - Behavioral Health. As a result, approval of the attached memorandum of understanding with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by facilitating public/private partnerships to solve problems, protecting vulnerable populations, creating opportunities for improved safety and health and providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Department of Health Care Services
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve the attached memorandum of understanding with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC regarding the provision of mental health treatment services at hospitals located in Humboldt County. However, this alternative is not recommended as it will not allow for the provision of additional mental health treatment services at hospitals located in Humboldt County.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Memorandum of Understanding with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC Regarding the Provision of Mental Health Treatment Services at Hospitals Located in Humboldt County
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: K-1
Meeting of: May 24, 2022
File No.: 22-584