To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Behavioral Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Professional Services Agreement with Christian Agricola Regarding the Provision of Psychiatric Services within the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and Other Behavioral Health Facilities Located Throughout Humboldt County
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 Christian Agricola regarding the provision of psychiatric services at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility, and other behavioral health facilities located throughout Humboldt County, for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022;
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 professional services agreement with Christian Agricola, 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 professional services agreement with Christian Agricola to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Behavioral Health Fund (1170)
DISCUSSION:
Despite the County of Humboldt’s ongoing recruitment efforts, the Department of Health and Human Services - Behavioral Health (DHHS - Behavioral Health) continues to experience difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified psychiatrists to provide mandated behavioral 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 population ratio of 1:30,000. 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 “rural communities have a chronic shortage of behavioral health providers and limited access to services.”
The attached professional services agreement with Christian Agricola has been drafted due to unique circumstances and establishes parameters for limited services that will allow for the provision of psychiatric services at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility, and other behavioral health facilities located throughout Humboldt County, on an as-needed basis, for up to 15 hours per week. Due to the pending countywide classification and compensation study by Koff & Associates, DHHS - Behavioral Health has not been able to offer competitive wages to doctors, resulting in contracts with outside staffing organizations. There is an immediate need to directly retain doctors to provide services to high-needs populations. Approval of the attached professional services agreement with Christian Agricola will allow DHHS - Behavioral Health to meet the needs of its clients while avoiding the higher cost of contracting with outside staffing organizations. It should be noted that the attached professional services agreement with Christian Agricola comes to the Board after the start date thereof due to inadvertent delays that occurred during the contract development process.
Accordingly, DHHS - Behavioral Health recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with Christian Agricola regarding the provision of psychiatric services at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility, and other behavioral health facilities located throughout Humboldt County, for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Staff also recommends that the Board authorize the DHHS - Behavioral Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with Christian Agricola, 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 psychiatric services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The attached professional services agreement with Christian Agricola has a maximum amount payable of $165,000 for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. 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 professional services agreement with Christian Agricola in its entirety.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached professional services agreement with Christian Agricola have been included in the proposed fiscal year 2021-2022 budgets for DHHS - Behavioral Health Administration budget unit 1170-424 and Jail Mental Health budget unit 1170-427. Funding for the attached professional services agreement with Christian Agricola is available through Medi-Cal, Medicare and state realignment revenues received by DHHS - Behavioral Health. As a result, approval of the attached professional services agreement with Christian Agricola will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations, creating opportunities for improved health and safety and providing community-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 Christian Agricola regarding the provision of psychiatric services at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and other behavioral health facilities located throughout Humboldt County. However, this alternative is not recommended since it will not allow DHHS - Behavioral Health to continue providing state mandated behavioral health treatment and medication services.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Professional Services Agreement with Christian Agricola Regarding the Provision of Psychiatric Services within the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and Other Behavioral Health Facilities Located Throughout Humboldt County
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-15
Meeting of: 12/8/20
File No.: 20-1465