To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Behavioral Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Professional Services Agreement with California Hearing Officers, LLP. Regarding the Provision of Professional Certification Review Hearing Officer Services for Qualified individuals 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 professional services agreement with California Hearing Officers, LLP. regarding the provision of professional certification review hearing officer services for qualified individuals residing in Humboldt County for the period of March 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024;
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 California Hearing Officers, LLP. 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 professional services agreement with California Hearing Officers, LLP. to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Behavioral Health Fund (1170)
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 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 providers, who have historically served Medi-Cal beneficiaries residing in Humboldt County. The Welfare and Institutions Code requires hearing officers for the purpose of conducting hospital-based hearings under section 5256.1 and other sections. In support of compliance with statute, the Certification Review Hearing Officer conducts due process hearings pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code 5250 and following. These hearings are required and are to be conducted on an as-needed basis to review involuntary detention of a client for additional treatment.
It should be noted that the attached professional services agreement with California Hearing Officers, LLP. comes to the Board after the start date thereof due to inadvertent delays that occurred during the contract development process.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The attached professional services agreement with California Hearing Officers, LLP. has a maximum amount payable of Two Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($240,000.00) for the period of March 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024. In no event shall the maximum amount paid under the attached professional services agreement with California Hearing Officers, LLP. exceed Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00) for fiscal year 2021-2022, One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) for fiscal year 2022-2023, and One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) for fiscal year 2023-2024. 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 California Hearing Officers, LLP. in its entirety.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached professional services agreement with California Hearing Officers, LLP. have been included in the approved fiscal year 2022-2023 budget for DHHS - Behavioral Health Administration budget unit 1170-424. Funding for the attached professional Services agreement with California Hearing Officers, LLP. is available through federal Medicaid financial participation and state realignment revenues received by DHHS - Behavioral Health. As a result, approval of the attached professional services agreement with California Hearing Officers, LLP. 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 safety and health and providing community-appropriate levels of services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose to not approve the attached professional services agreement with California Hearing Officers, LLP. regarding the provision of professional certification review hearing officer services for qualified individuals residing in Humboldt County. However, this alternative is not recommended since it would require DHHS - Behavioral Health to directly provide the hearing officer services currently being provided by California Hearing Officers, LLP., which is not feasible at this time, and because these hearings are statutorily mandated, they must be conducted.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Professional Services Agreement with California Hearing Officers, LLP. Regarding the Provision of Professional Certification Review Hearing Officer Services for Qualified Individuals Residing in Humboldt County
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: NA
Meeting of: NA
File No.: NA