To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Mental Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Professional Services Agreement with Dr. John L. Shaeffer, Inc., Doing Business As American Telepsychiatrists, Regarding the Provision of Telepsychiatry Services to Children and Adults Suffering from Mental Illness
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with Dr. John L. Shaeffer, Inc., doing business as American Telepsychiatrists, regarding the provision of telepsychiatry services to children and adults suffering from mental illness for the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022;
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Mental Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with Dr. John L. Shaeffer, Inc. doing business as American Telepsychiatrists, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return a fully executed original copy of the attached professional services agreement with Dr. John L. Shaeffer, Inc. doing business as American Telepsychiatrists, to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Mental Health Fund
DISCUSSION:
On July 10, 2018 (Item C-11), the Board of Supervisors approved the current professional services agreement with Dr. John L. Schaeffer, Inc., doing business as American Telepsychiatrists, (American Telepsychiatrists) regarding the provision of telepsychiatry services to children and adults suffering from mental illness for the period of July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019.
Despite the County of Humboldt’s ongoing recruitment efforts, the Department of Health and Human Services - Mental Health (DHHS - Mental Health) continues to experience significant difficulty in recruiting and retaining qualified psychiatrists to provide mandated mental health treatment services. Due to the shortage of available psychiatrists and other behavioral health treatment providers, the United States Department of Health and Human Services - Health Resources and Services Administration defines Humboldt County as a federally designated Mental Health Care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). Mental Health HPSAs are based on a psychiatrist-to-population ratio of 1-to-30,000. However, this shortage in specialty behavioral health care providers is not endemic to Humboldt County or limited to the northern region of the state. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - Center for Integrated Health Solutions states that “rural communities have a chronic shortage of behavioral health providers and limited access to services.”
The attached professional services agreement will allow eligible DHHS - Mental Health clients to receive continued telepsychiatry services from American Telepsychiatrists for the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022. It should be noted that the attached professional services agreement with American Telepsychiatrists comes to the Board after the start date thereof due to inadvertent delays that occurred during the contract negotiation process.
Accordingly, DHHS - Mental Health recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with American Telepsychiatrists regarding the provision of telepsychiatry services to children and adults suffering from mental illness. It is also recommended that the board authorize the DHHS - Mental Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with American Telepsychiatrists, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office, in order to avoid unnecessary delays in the provision of needed telepsychiatry services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The attached professional services agreement with American Telepsychiatrists has a maximum amount payable of $2,490,786.07 for the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022. In no event shall the maximum amount paid under the professional services agreement with American Telepsychiatrists exceed $813,876 for fiscal year 2019-20, $830,153.50 for fiscal year 2020-21 and $846,756.57 for fiscal year 2021-22. 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 professional services agreement with American Telepsychiatrists in its entirety.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached professional services agreement with American Telepsychiatrists have been included in the proposed fiscal year 2019-20 budget for DHHS - Mental Health Medication Support budget unit 1170-498. Funding for the attached professional services agreement with American Telepsychiatrists is available through the federal Medi-Cal and Medicare programs, state realignment for mental health managed care and early periodic screening, diagnosis and Treatment and Mental Health Services Act revenues received by DHHS - Mental Health. As a result, approval of the attached professional services agreement with American Telepsychiatrists will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by creating 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 may choose not to approve the attached professional services agreement with American Telepsychiatrists regarding the provision of telepsychiatry services to children and adults suffering from mental illness. However, this alternative is not recommended since it would cause a reduction of available services in DHHS - Mental Health’s children and adult outpatient clinics.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Professional Services Agreement with Dr. John L. Shaeffer, Inc., Doing Business As American Telepsychiatrists, Regarding the Provision of Telepsychiatry Services for Fiscal Years 2019-20 through 2021-22.
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-11, C-17, C-17
Meeting of: 7/10/18, 6/27/17, 6/28/16
File No.: N/A