Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Jei Africa, Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Subject: Agreement with The Healthy Teen Project, Inc. for Comprehensive Treatment Services for Clients Diagnosed with Eating Disorders
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with The Healthy Teen Project, Inc. for comprehensive treatment services for clients diagnosed with eating disorders, for the term of June 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $550,000.
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BACKGROUND:
As a mental health managed care plan, BHRS is required to maintain a provider network that meets diverse needs of our clients, including access to eating disorder services. To support network adequacy requirements, we contract with any willing qualified provider to ensure these services are available when needed, with costs incurred only when services are utilized by clients
We have identified a gap in eating disorder services within our current network, as there is presently insufficient provider capacity to meet this need. Despite outreach efforts, there has been limited interest from eating disorder service providers located within San Mateo County. To address this gap and expand access to care, we broadened our outreach efforts across the greater Bay Area and identified four qualified and eligible providers capable of delivering these specialized services. Today, we are seeking approval to contract with The Healthy Teen Project (HTP), as we also maintain contracts with the other three identified providers that meet the requirements to provide comprehensive and specialized eating disorder treatment to help ensure adequate access and network capacity for our clients.
DISCUSSION:
Since 2018, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) has contracted with The Healthy Teen Project, Inc. (HTP) to provide eating disorders services to clients in San Mateo County Through this agreement, HTP will provide intensive Outpatient Partial Hospitalization Program, outpatient treatment services, and residential treatment services for severely mentally ill youth clients with moderate to severe eating disorders who need specialized treatment. There is a continued need for these specialized services to support clients with eating disorders in their recovery.
Under Administrative Memorandum B-1, agreements made with any qualified provider for mental health services are exempt from the solicitation process. A waiver request was reviewed by County Procurement, which recommended submission to this Board for approval. This waiver will enable BHRS to operate and provide services to individuals who are primarily receiving treatment for severe mental illness.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provision allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the
County Attorney as to form.
It is anticipated that 75% of clients successfully completing the program will be served at a lower level of care for up to one year after being discharged.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2025-26 Estimated |
FY 2026-27 Projected |
|
Percentage of clients successfully completing the program that are served at a lower level of care for up to one year after being discharged |
75% 3 clients |
75% 3 clients |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The purpose of this agreement is to deliver comprehensive behavioral health and medical services to the Medi-Cal population of youth struggling with moderate to severe eating disorders in San Mateo County. The program’s goal is to meet the unique needs of underserved populations, emphasizing trauma and culturally informed and evidence-based practices to promote long-term well-being. HTP works to improve the social-emotional development and prevent the long-term trauma effects of marginalized adolescents and families by reducing medical and psychiatric re-hospitalization.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is June 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $550,000 for the 13-month term. Funds in the amount of $550,000 will be included in the BHRS FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget. Of this amount, up to 50% or $275,000 will be funded by other payors, such as the Health Plan of San Mateo and Kaiser, with an anticipated Memorandum of Understanding and in compliance with a recommendation by the Department of Health Care Services Behavioral Health Information Notice 22-009 (Dispute Resolution Process Between Mental Health Plans and Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans) and the remaining amount will be funded with 1991 Realignment. There is no Net County Cost associated with this agreement.