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 Pear Therapeutics (US), Inc.
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Pear Therapeutics (US), Inc. for the Pear Digital Therapeutic application, for the term of February 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $382,950.
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BACKGROUND:
In August 2021, Pear Therapeutics (US), Inc. submitted a proposal for a prescription digital therapeutics (PDT) application with San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS). Through the PDT, this pilot is designed to treat individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorders (OUD), with their recovery. This new and innovative service is not yet offered in San Mateo County.
On November 15, 2021, the California Department of Health Care Services awarded San Mateo County an additional $2,200,000 in funding as part of its Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG). Through this additional funding, BHRS will have the ability to provide innovative SUD prevention and treatment services to San Mateo County residents, and supplement existing SUD prevention and treatment services.
DISCUSSION:
The National Surveys and U.S. Surgeon General reported approximately 90% of individuals diagnosed with a SUD do not seek treatment. For some, access to care is limited due to work, transportation, or childcare needs. Pear Therapeutics (US), Inc. provides the only Food and Drug Administration approved application-based digital therapeutics SUD treatment that can be accessed 24/7 from a smart phone. Clients with a SUD who are otherwise unable to attend traditional outpatient or residential SUD treatment can download the application and engage in a curriculum of evidenced-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and contingency management for SUD. Additionally, the application can be used as a supplement to support recovery in transitions between levels of care, all with the oversight and monitoring of their provider.
Through this agreement, Pear Therapeutics (US), Inc. shall provide the first evidence-based PDT program to San Mateo County residents in need of SUD treatment through its reSET and reSET-O programs. reSET is a 90-day PDT for SUD patients, to provide CBT as an adjunct to a contingency management system. reSET-O is a PDT for OUD patients, intended to increase retention of patients in outpatient treatment by providing CBT as an adjunct to outpatient treatment that includes transmucosal buprenorphine and contingency management. BHRS will provide the clinical services to the clients, while Pear Therapeutics (US), Inc. will provide technical assistance to the clients and BHRS. In addition, Pear Therapeutics (US), Inc. will provide comprehensive training and technical guidance to prescribing providers prior to launch and to prescribing providers and clients throughout the duration of the contract.
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 County Counsel as to form.
It is anticipated that 75% of clients who download the application will stay engaged and complete the full 12 week curriculum.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2021-22 Estimated |
FY 2022-23 Projected |
|
Percentage of clients who download the application that stay engaged and complete the full 12-week curriculum |
75% 75 of 100 clients |
75% 112 of 150 clients |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is February 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $382,950 for the 16-month term and is 100% funded by the SABG. Of this amount, $153,180 is included in the FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget. A similar arrangement will be in place for FY 2022-23.