Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Scott Gilman, Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Subject: Agreement with Mental Health Association of Alameda County
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Mental Health Association of Alameda County for patients’ rights services for the term of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $635,746.
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BACKGROUND:
By statute the County is obligated to provide patients’ rights advocacy services for all recipients of mental health services in San Mateo County. These services include patient hearing representation at Certification and Capacity and/or Meredith Hearings 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 inpatient facilities in the County where Capacity and Certification Hearings take place: Mills-Peninsula Hospital, San Mateo Medical Center, Seton’s Geriatric Behavioral Program, Cordilleras Mental Health Center, and Maguire Correctional Facility.
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 San Mateo County. As required by statute, services will be provided to all County residents receiving mental health services whether they are receiving services through BHRS or not. 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 patient representation at Certification Hearings and Capacity Hearings and/or Meredith Hearings. MHA will provide services through an office in San Mateo County.
MHA has continuously provided these services for BHRS since 2003. For the last 17 years, through three Request for Proposals and one RFI, MHA has been the only respondent to submit a proposal to provide these services. BHRS has designated MHA a sole source provider for patients’ rights services.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provision allowing amendments of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form. This agreement is late due to negotiations with MHA and is on the Continuing Resolution.
It is anticipated that 96% of certified patients who receive services through this agreement will be interviewed and represented by MHA at capacity hearings.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2020-21 Actual |
FY 2021-22 Estimate |
|
Percentage of certified patients who receive services through this agreement who are interviewed and represented by MHA at capacity hearings |
96% 842 clients |
96% 842 clients |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $635,746 for the three-year term. Of that amount, $211,915 is included in the BHRS FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget and will be 100% funded by sales tax through Realignment. There is no Net County Cost. Similar funding arrangements will be in place for subsequent years.