Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Lee Pullen, Director, Aging and Adult Services
Subject: Amendments with Chajinel Home Care Services LLC, BrightLife In-Home
Care Services, LLC, Homecare Professionals, Inc and NP Plus LLC for home health care services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing contract amendments with the following home health care services providers for the term of January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2026:
A) Chajinel Home Care Services LLC for a total amount not to exceed $1,000,000; and
B) BrightLife In-Home Care Services, LLC for a total amount not to exceed $600,000; and
C) Homecare Professionals, Inc. for a total amount not to exceed $800,000; and
D) NP Plus LLC for a total amount not to exceed $400,000.
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BACKGROUND:
San Mateo County Health’s Aging and Adult Services (AAS) division started contracting with care agencies to provide home health care services for AAS clients in 2010.
Initially, home health care services included chores for household support, personal care, skilled care (e.g. Registered Nurse services, physical or occupational therapy), protective supervision, professional care assistance, purchased care management, respite care, and/or transportation services for clients in the Multipurpose Senior Services Program and Adult Protective Services (APS) programs. The need for home health care services has continued to expand over the past three years as AAS began to provide CalAIM respite care and Personal Care and Homemaker services.
In September 2021, AAS conducted a Request for Proposals and selected 10 home health care services providers. The original agreements were for amounts not to exceed $150,000 for each agency.
DISCUSSION:
By 2024, the need for home health care services had grown and four providers are expected to provide more than $200,000 of services in 2025: BrightLife In-Home Care Services, LLC, Chajinel Home Care Services LLC, Home Care Professionals, Inc. and NP Plus LLC. AAS’s practice has been to contact the 10 contractors on a rotating basis, but these four agencies have been the most responsive to AAS’s care service needs.
During 2024, AAS provided 3,675 hours of home health care services to over 60 unduplicated clients. During 2025 and 2026, AAS projects it will serve an additional 140 clients.
The agreements and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney’s Office as to form. The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate per agreement).
The resolution also contains a provision to allow the Chief of County Health or their designee to modify the performance measures to implement changes in the reporting requirements, as may be appropriate.
The amendments are coming to this Board late due to the necessity of conducting a needs assessment to accurately project usage for the two additional years.
It is anticipated that 95% or 133 AAS clients will be referred to contracted Home Care agencies for services for CalAIM Community Support and 0.3% or 12 APS/EDAPT clients will be referred to contracted emergency Home Care agencies for Centralized Intake.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
|
CalAIM Community Support: Percentage of AAS clients referred to contracted Home Care agencies for services |
90% 126 clients |
95% 133 clients |
|
Centralized Intake: Percentage of APS/EDAPT clients referred to contracted emergency Home Care agencies |
0.3% of total opened APS/EDAPT cases 10 clients |
0.3% of total opened APS/EDAPT cases 12 clients |
EQUITY IMPACT:
Several programs within AAS rely on partnerships with home care agencies to meet planned and emergency caregiving needs. The contracts with Chajinel Home Care Services LLC, Bright Life In-Home Care Services, LLC, Home Care Professionals, Inc and NP Plus LLC aim to improve quality of life for eligible AAS clients by reducing their need for more intensive and costly care and allowing them to maintain their independence by living in their own homes.
In the Community Supports Respite and Personal Care Program, 10% of clients identify as African American, 12% as Hispanic, 30% as White, and 34% as Asian. These clients are eligible for home care services as Medi-Cal/Health Plan of San Mateo members aged 21 and older. Contractors are required to provide culturally, and linguistically appropriate services tailored to our diverse population. AAS will educate staff in its various programs about the availability of these services and develop a feedback mechanism that enables client to share their suggestions following caregiver assignments.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the amendments is January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2026. The total amount of funds authorized to be expended pursuant to the above amendments is $2,800,000 for the two-year term. Funding for FY 2024-25 has been included in the AAS FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget. Funding for FY 2025-26 will be appropriated in the AAS FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget.