COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Department

DATE:

May 22, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 3, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Charlene A. Silva, Director of Health

Louise Rogers, Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services

SUBJECT:

Amendment to the Agreement with Omal Bani Saberi, L.C.S.W.

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

1)

Authorizing the President of the Board to execute an agreement with Omal Bani Saberi, L.C.S.W. for the provision of specialty outpatient mental health services for the term July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011, for a maximum obligation of $120,000; 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 specialty outpatient mental health services.

Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) provides a range of services to promote wellness and recovery and to support consumers remaining in the lowest possible level of care. The provision of outpatient mental health services is one established level of care. The services provided through this Agreement contribute to this measure.

Performance Measure:

Measure

FY 2007-08
Estimate

FY 2008-09
Target

Percentage of clients who maintain current or lower level of care.

96%

96%

BACKGROUND:

For over three years BHRS has contracted with Omal Bani Saberi, L.C.S.W., for the provision of specialty outpatient mental health services in an environment that is accessible to the physically disabled. As the State designated Mental Health Plan for San Mateo County, BHRS is required to maintain a Private Provider Network. It is the obligation of BHRS to provide services throughout the County that are geographically and culturally accessible and to make available the range of specialty outpatient mental health services that are needed by its clients.

Under the B-1 Administrative Memorandum, the selection of individual private mental health therapists for BHRS is exempt from the requirement for a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. In order to improve its service capacity, it has been the practice of BHRS to offer contracts for specialty outpatient mental health services to any willing qualified provider.

DISCUSSION:

The volume of services that this contractor provides is greater than that of most Mental Health Plan providers. This contractor has a unique capacity to provide services for those individuals who face issues related to mental illness as well as a physical disability.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved this Agreement and Risk Management has approved the insurance coverage for this provider. 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:

The term of the Agreement is July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011. The Agreement maximum is $120,000 for the three-year term. The budgeted maximum for FY 2008-09 is $40,000. Of that amount $4,000 is funded by Medicare, $18,000 is from Federal Financial Participation, and $18,000 is from Realignment. The revenues and expenditures are included in the BHRS FY 2008-09 Recommended Budget. There is no Net County Cost. Similar arrangements will be made for subsequent years.