COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Department

DATE:

August 31, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 11, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Charlene A. Silva, Director of Health

Gale Bataille, Interim Director, Behavioral Health & Recovery Services

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Marc Abramson, M.D.

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

1) Authorizing the President of the Board to execute an Agreement with Marc Abramson, M.D. for psychiatric services for the term July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2009 for a maximum obligation of $161,956; and

2) Authorizing the Director of Health or the Director's designee to execute contract amendments which modify the County's maximum fiscal obligation by no more than $25,000 (in aggregate) and/or modify the contract term and/or services so long as the modified term or services is/are within the current or revised fiscal provisions.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.

Goal 8: Help vulnerable peoplethe aged, disabled, mentally ill, at risk youth and othersachieve a better quality of life.

The Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by providing psychiatric services to clients of the San Mateo County Mental Health Plan and for inmates at the Women’s Correctional Center and Maguire Correctional Facility.

Performance Measure:

Measure

FY 2006-07
Actual

FY 2007-08
Projected

Percent of clients satisfied with services received*

75%

90%

Percent of clients admitted to Psychiatric Emergency Services one year after intake

0%

5%

*Four clients responded in FY 2006-07.

BACKGROUND:

There has been a shortage of adult and child psychiatrists in California and in the nation for the past several years. Mental Health has found it extremely difficult to fill adult and child psychiatrist positions. Under Administrative Memorandum B-1, agreements with physicians are exempt from the requirement for a Request for Proposals process. Mental Health Services runs advertisements for specialty psychiatric services on a regular basis in the Northern California Psychiatric Newsletter and other venues as needed. Dr. Abramson was selected from candidates who responded to those advertisements. Mental Health Services has contracted with Dr. Abramson for over 16 years.

DISCUSSION:

Dr. Abramson will provide psychiatric services at the Women’s Correctional Center and Maguire Correctional Facility. Services will include psychiatric evaluation, medication evaluation and treatment, treatment plan review, and case consultation. Dr. Abramson will also provide psychiatric services for clients of the San Mateo County Mental Health Plan.

The Agreement has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel and Risk Management. The contractor has assured compliance with the County's Contractor Employee Jury Service Ordinance, as well as all other contract provisions that are required by County ordinance and administrative memoranda, including but not limited to insurance, hold harmless, non-discrimination and equal benefits.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Contracted psychiatrists are usually offered a rate increase that matches the negotiated COLAs provided to physicians at the San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC). This Agreement was put in place prior to the completion of negotiations between the Union of Physicians and Dentists and SMMC this year. For this Agreement a 3% rate increase has been included for both FY 2007-08 and FY 2008-09.

The term of the Agreement is July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2009. The Agreement maximum is $161,956 for the two-year term. For FY 2007-08 the budgeted maximum is $78,544, which has been included in the Mental Health Services tentatively Adopted FY 2007-08 Budget. Of that amount, $25,000 is for Mental Health Plan services, which are 100% funded by State and Federal Medi-Cal, $53,544 is for services provided in correctional facilities, which are 100% Net County Cost. Similar arrangements will be made for FY 2008-09.