COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Services Agency

DATE:

September 10, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

October 8, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Margaret Taylor, Director of Health Services

Gale Bataille, Director of Mental Health Services

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Ross DeBoskey, M.D.

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors:

1) To execute an agreement with Ross DeBoskey, M.D., and

2) To authorize the Director of Health Services to execute amendments and modifications to the agreement.

Background

In March 1995, your Board approved the acceptance of State and Federal funds to implement the San Mateo County Managed Care Mental Health Plan (MHP). As part of this plan, the Mental Health Services Division offered contracts to any and all qualified and willing providers to provide mental health services to San Mateo County Medi-Cal clients, indigent clients, and other clients for whom we have assumed responsibility. Dr. DeBoskey joined our managed care provider network at its inception in April 1995 and has continued as a provider of psychiatric services since that time.

Discussion

Dr. DeBoskey is one of few managed care network psychiatrists who provides continuous service to a substantial number of San Mateo County MHP clients. Due to the shortage of psychiatrists in the Bay Area generally and in the network specifically, the level of service activity provided by this psychiatrist is significant and requires an agreement for a greater volume of service than is usually given to MHP providers.

Vision Alignment

This agreement with Dr. DeBoskey keeps the commitment to Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All and goal number 8: Help vulnerable people - the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth, and others - achieve a better life. This agreement contributes to this commitment by providing psychiatric services to San Mateo County Medi-Cal clients, indigent clients for whom we have accepted responsibility, and clients enrolled in the Healthy Families and Healthworx programs.

Fiscal Impact

The term of this agreement is July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2005. County Counsel has reviewed and approved this agreement and Risk Management has approved the insurance coverage for this provider.

This contract is structured on the basis of fee-for-service rates. The maximum agreement amount is $150,000. Only services authorized by the San Mateo County Mental Health Services ACCESS Team will be paid. This agreement is funded through State and Federal monies set forth for the MHP. There is no net County cost.

We are also requesting that the Director of Health Services or her designee be given signing authority to execute amendments and minor modifications up to an aggregate of $25,000 for the term of the agreement.