Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Jei Africa, Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Subject: Agreement with Telecare Corporation for Assisted Outpatient Treatment Full-Service Partnership Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Telecare Corporation to provide Assisted Outpatient Treatment Full-Service Partnership Services for the term of December 1, 2024, through November 30, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $2,665,000.
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BACKGROUND:
In July 2024, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) contracted with Caminar, Inc. to operate Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Full-Service Partnership (FSP) Mental Health Service Programs, after being selected through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Recently, Caminar, Inc. decided to close its facilities and terminated this AOT FSP agreement with BHRS as a result.
The cornerstone of the County’s Mental Health Services Act Community Services and Supports plan is the delivery of FSP services for our highest risk consumers with serious mental illness. FSP programs are designed to allow consumers to remain living in the community and decrease their hospitalizations and/or incarcerations by providing case management, medication management, therapy, social activities, and 24/7 response capability to mitigate an evolving situation.
DISCUSSION:
In light of the sudden and unexpected contract termination by Caminar, Inc., BHRS would like to contract with Telecare Corporation (Telecare), also previously selected through the July 2024 RFP process, to provide FSP services. In addition to continuing these vital services to its clients, the County of San Mateo benefits from the implementation of this agreement by increasing its ability to directly respond to community members in mental health crisis, providing Medi-Cal reimbursable services to County clients, improving response time for those in need of mental health services and resources, and creating a broader and more effective continuum of care that results in a decrease in justice system contacts.
Telecare will provide 50 consumer slots for comprehensive FSP and Housing Support Program (HSP) services. FSP enrollees have services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. HSP services are provided to FSP enrollees to assist them in achieving independence, stability, and wellness. Telecare seeks to incorporate persons who have personal experiences in facing the challenges of mental illness and/or alcohol, as well as other drug addiction, as program staff. Through the AOT FSP, Telecare serves a target population of adults with serious mental illnesses that are unable to survive safely in the community without supervision, have a history of unsuccessful treatment experiences, and have a deteriorating ability to manage their symptoms.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provision allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
This agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form.
BHRS provides a range of services to promote wellness and recovery and to support consumers remaining in the lowest possible level of care. It is anticipated that the percentage of FSP clients who receive FSP services that are maintained at a current or lower level of care will be 70%.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
|
Percentage of FSP clients who receive FSP services that are maintained at a current or lower level of care |
70% (35 clients) |
70% (35 clients) |
EQUITY IMPACT:
This agreement will positively impact a critically undeserved community of behavioral health clients who have severe mental illness and who will benefit from higher level of care/wrap around services to support their stabilization and recovery. Providers such as Telecare who provide full-service partnership services are a vital resource in our community. Having this agreement with Telecare helps us to keep clients out of high-cost services such as the emergency room, psychiatric emergency services, inpatient psychiatric units, and out of locked settings such as jail and our mental health rehabilitation centers. Telecare's full-service partnership programs are designed to meet the unique needs of underserved populations, emphasizing trauma and using culturally informed and evidence-based practices to promote long-term well-being.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is December 1, 2024, through November 30, 2025. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $2,665,000 for the one-year term. Mental Health Services Act will fund $1,892,150 of this agreement. Medi-Cal Reimbursement will fund the remaining $772,850. There is no Net County Cost associated with this agreement.