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 UniHealth, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Professional Corporation for Specialty Mental Health Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with UniHealth, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Professional Corporation for specialty mental health services, for the term of January 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $940,000.
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BACKGROUND:
Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (BHRS) has developed a private provider network to provide outpatient mental health services to seriously mentally ill (SMI) clients. The SMI Private Provider Network (SPPN) receives referrals from the BHRS clinics when an assessment and treatment plan have been completed, and it is determined that a client can best receive outpatient SMI services and does not necessarily need more intensive therapy from clinic staff. Through the network, BHRS is able to better manage the volume of SMI services needed by appropriately redirecting those clients to the SPPN for outpatient mental health services and reducing the service load for its clinics. SPPN providers work in collaboration with BHRS clinic staff to provide the appropriate care to the SMI population.
SPPN providers are an integral part of the BHRS treatment program. These services shall be provided in a manner prescribed by the laws of California and in accord with the applicable laws, titles, rules, and regulations of the Short-Doyle/Medi-Cal program.
DISCUSSION:
BHRS has contracted with UniHealth, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Professional Corporation (UniHealth) for SMI services since 2022. In 2023, CalAIM rates increased 3%, and this increase has continued for each subsequent year. The SPPN program has had about a 10% increas...
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