COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Department

 

DATE:

BOARD MEETING DATE:

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

   

FROM:

Charlene A. Silva, Director of Health

 

Louise Rogers, Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services

 

Brian Zamora, Director, Public Health and Environmental Protection Division

   

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Telecare Corporation for services at Cordilleras Mental Health Center

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

1)

Authorizing the President of the Board to execute an Agreement with Telecare Corporation for mental health services and direct observation therapy services for non-adherent tuberculosis patients for the term July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, for a maximum obligation of $7,297,050; 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: To 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.

 

This Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal through the provision of inpatient and residential psychiatric treatment services and direct observation therapy for non-adherent tuberculosis (TB) patients at Cordilleras Mental Health Center.

 

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 locked facility long-term care 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

Clients maintained at current or lower level of care.

79%

79%

 

BACKGROUND:

Telecare Corporation (Telecare) has provided inpatient and residential psychiatric treatment services for San Mateo County residents at Cordilleras Mental Health Center in Redwood City since 1982. Telecare treats up to 110 seriously mentally ill San Mateo County residents through the operation of a locked Mental Health Rehabilitation Center (MHRC) and residential care services supported by an assertive treatment team. It also provides a direct observation therapy program for non-adherent tuberculosis (TB) patients and is the only facility in California to provide this service.

 

Over the last several years, Telecare has focused on increasing the number of admissions and discharges and shortening the average length of stay in its MHRC program. Increasing this in-county placement capacity contributes to reducing administrative days in the San Mateo Medical Center, and to reducing placements at more costly out-of-county skilled nursing facilities. Telecare was selected to provide these services through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process prior to FY 2005-06. These services are on a five-year RFP cycle.

 

DISCUSSION:

Telecare will provide a total of 110 beds at Cordilleras dedicated to San Mateo County residents, of which 49 are residential beds for clients receiving intensive case management services and 61 beds are part of the third floor’s MHRC. In addition, six MHRC beds are reserved for clients of the Veterans Administration and other counties. Telecare also provides peer counseling for clients discharged from Cordilleras. There is no service change for Telecare’s TB services.

 

The Agreement has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel and Risk Management. Real Property has reviewed and approved the License Agreement for use of the County-owned Cordilleras facility. 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 this Agreement is July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The Agreement maximum is $7,297,050. The maximum obligation for BHRS is $7,210,910, which is included in the BHRS FY 2008-09 Recommended Budget. Realignment will fund $7,210,910. A three percent COLA is included to fund negotiated labor agreements and sustain staffing required for intensive services to clients who would otherwise require out-of-county skilled nursing facility services or state hospital placement. There is no Net County Cost for BHRS funded services.

 

Public Health will pay $86,140 at a flat rate of $236 per day to reserve the TB bed for a client regardless of whether or not the bed is filled. The State TB Control Branch will award Public Health $86,140 for FY 2008-09 to cover this cost. Revenue and expenses related to this Agreement are included in the Public Health FY 2008-09 Recommended Budget. There is no Net County Cost for Public Health funded services.