REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 24, 2022
FROM
GEORGINA YOSHIOKA, Interim Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT
Title
Funding for Contract Physician Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve increase in funding for continued psychiatric and/or other physician services, increasing the funding by $6,914,549, from $21,000,000 to $27,914,549, to extend services an additional year, for the total period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023.
(Presenter: Georgina Yoshioka, Interim Director, 388-0801)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The increase of $6,914,549 for continued psychiatric and/or other physician services will be funded by Medi-Cal Federal Financial Participation, Mental Health Services Act, and 1991 and 2011 Realignment. Adequate appropriation and revenue will be included in the Department of Behavioral Health’s (DBH) 2022-23 recommended budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
As the Mental Health Plan for the County, DBH is required to provide a qualified network of psychiatric providers to ensure timely access to mental health services. DBH is mandated by the California Department of Health Care Services to maintain a qualified provider panel of psychiatrists to provide medication support services, as specified in California Code of Regulations, Title 9, Sections 1810.225 and 623. Since 2007, DBH has utilized a Board of Supervisors (Board) approved contract template for the required contract physician services. The recommended action will allow DBH to continue funding through June 30, 2023 to align with the one-year extension option included in the physician contract template.
DBH utilizes contracted services of specialized medical personnel, including psychiatrists and physicians, for the treatment of adults and children with a mental illness and/or substance use disorder. The executed contract for each individual differs by classification, hourly pay, and the number of hours worked. Compensation for psychiatric and physician services varies dependent upon the position classification. For example, if the individual contract physician has a Postgraduate Training License, the contract physician is paid at a rate of $115.00 per hour. Contracts may be terminated with or without cause upon 14 days written notice by either party.
On May 21, 2019 (Item No. 41), the Board approved the contract template for psychiatric and/or other physician services, in an amount not to exceed $21,000,000, for the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022. In addition, this item authorized the Assistant Executive Officer of Human Services, Deputy Executive Officer of Human Services, or DBH Director to execute the contract template with the individual physicians, including extending the term a maximum of one successive one-year period, on behalf of the County, subject to County Counsel review.
Upon Board approval of the recommended action to increase funding for physician services through June 30, 2023, the DBH Director will exercise the contract template’s one-year extension option with the individual physicians.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Behavioral Health Contracts (Ellayna Hoatson, Contracts Supervisor, 388-0858) on April 7, 2022; County Counsel (Cynthia O’Neill, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 3, 2022; Finance (Christopher Lange, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on May 4, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on May 10, 2022.