Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, Health System
Subject: Agreement with Mental Health Association of Alameda County
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Mental Health Association of Alameda County for patients' rights services for the term July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021, in an amount not to exceed $629,451.
body
BACKGROUND:
By statute the County is obligated to provide patients' rights advocacy services for all recipients of mental health services in the County. These services include patient hearing representation at Certification and Capacity Hearings (CCH) in psychiatric inpatient facilities, complaint investigation and resolution, monitoring of mental health facilities, and outreach and training on advocacy topics for clients and providers. There are two inpatient facilities in the County where CCHs occur: Mills-Peninsula Hospital, and San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC).
In February 2015 Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) released a Request for Interest (RFI) for patients' rights advocacy services. The Mental Health Association of Alameda County (MHA) was the only respondent to the RFI. MHA has provided these services for BHRS continuously since 2003.
DISCUSSION:
MHA will provide patients' rights advocacy services for all recipients of mental health services in the County. As required by statute, services will be provided to all County residents receiving mental health services, whether or not they are receiving services through BHRS. These patients' rights advocacy services will include: complaint investigation and resolution; compliance monitoring of facilities providing mental health services; training of staff in mental health facilities regarding patients' rights, laws, regulations and policies; patient education services to comply with State requirements for advance directives; and p...
Click here for full text