COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Department

DATE:

November 24, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 16, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Charlene A. Silva, Director, Health Department

Nomalee Tilman, Director, Correctional Health Services

SUBJECT:

Amendment to the Agreement with County of Santa Clara

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an Amendment to the Agreement with Santa Clara County for critical inpatient mental health care adding additional language regarding medical intervention with no change in the term or amount.

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 Amendment to the Agreement with Santa Clara County contributes to this commitment and goal by assuring that critical inpatient mental health care is provided to seriously mentally ill inmates of the San Mateo County jails.

Performance Measure:

Measure

FY 2007-08
Actual

FY 2008-09
Projected

Average daily bed use

1.71

1.71

BACKGROUND:

From 1997 through June 2009, the Health Department has contracted with Santa Clara County to provide beds in their main jail for San Mateo County inmates requiring acute inpatient mental health treatment. On June 3, 2008, by Resolution 069459, your Board approved an Agreement which provided two guaranteed beds at the Santa Clara County Main Jail effective July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 for a maximum obligation of $1,000,000.

DISCUSSION:

This Amendment ensures continuity of care for the seriously mentally ill inmates who require acute inpatient mental health treatment.

Santa Clara County provides beds in their main jail for inmates requiring acute inpatient mental health treatment. This is the only correctional inpatient psychiatric unit in the Bay Area at this time. The County of Santa Clara is requiring that additional language be added to the contract. This language states that Santa Clara County may return an inmate to San Mateo County’s care should the inmate have a severe chronic or acute medical condition requiring medical intervention. Santa Clara County is requiring this change to all of its other county contracts for this service. This language benefits San Mateo County because it allows the County to manage inmate patient care and costs.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Amendment as to form and content.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no fiscal impact as a result of the amended language and no change to Net County Cost.