REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 8, 2021
FROM
VERONICA KELLEY, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT
Title v
Amendment to Contracts for Crisis Residential Treatment Program Services
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RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Amendment No. 2, effective June 8, 2021, to Contract No. 17-295 with Valley Star Behavioral Health, Inc., for the provision of Transitional Age Youth, Crisis Residential Treatment program services, updating contract language, increasing total contract amount by $200,000, from $12,600,000 to $12,800,000, and no change to the contract period of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022.
2. Approve Amendment No. 3, effective June 8, 2021, to the following contracts for the provision of Crisis Residential Treatment program services, updating contract language, increasing the total combined contract amount by $800,000, from $49,774,999 to $50,574,999, with no change to the contract periods:
a. Telecare Corporation, Contract No. 17-709, increasing the total contract amount by $200,000, from $12,183,333 to $12,383,333 for the contract period of September 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022.
b. Valley Star Behavioral Health, Inc., Contract No. 17-710, increasing the total contract amount by $200,000, from $12,183,333 to $12,383,333 for the contract period of September 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022.
c. Valley Star Behavioral Health, Inc., Contract No. 17-148, increasing the total contract amount by $400,000, from $25,408,333 to $25,808,333, for the contract period of April 4, 2017 through June 30, 2022.
(Presenter: Veronica Kelley, Director, 388-0801)
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COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
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 in the amount of $200,000 for Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Crisis Residential Treatment (CRT) and $800,000 for CRT program services will be funded by a combination of Medi-Cal Federal Financial Participation, 2011 Realignment and Mental Health Services Act. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Behavioral Health’s (DBH) 2020-21 budget and will be included in the 2021-22 recommended budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DBH, the County's Mental Health Plan, provides behavioral health treatment services throughout San Bernardino County for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. This has been a seamless system of care enabling residents to access behavioral health treatment services in all regions of the County.
Recommendation No. 1
Valley Star Behavioral Health, Inc.’s (Valley Star) TAY CRT facility is located in the city of San Bernardino (Contract No.17-295) and comprised of 14 beds with services providing care for transitional age youth consumers. Services to this specialized population include assessments, treatment plan development, collateral services, crisis intervention, medication support services, and individual and group therapy for individuals diagnosed with mental health and co-occurring disorders. The recommended amendment to Contract No. 17-295 will increase the contract by $200,000 to assist Valley Star in maintaining the necessary staffing levels to continue to meet current personnel requirements of Community Care Licensing and thereby ensuring services are delivered per regulatory requirements.
Recommendation No. 2
Telecare Corporation’s (Telecare) CRT facility is located in the West Valley (Contract No. 17-709) and Valley Star’s CRT facilities are located in the Eastern Desert (Contract No. 17-710) and East Valley/High Desert (Contract No. 17-148). These facilities are comprised of 16 beds per site, specializing in providing crisis intervention for individuals aged 18 to 59 who have been diagnosed with behavioral health and co-occurring disorders. CRT program services were initially estimated to provide 14 to 28 days of residential treatment services per consumer to achieve stability and regain optimum wellness. However, the length of stay for these residential treatment services continues to average 38 days of service per consumer as well as bed utilization continues to exceed the 90% averaging a bed utilization rate of 93% and the costs associated with increased services include increases in personnel. The recommended contract amendments to Contract No. 17-709 with Telecare, and Contract Nos. 17-710 and 17-148 with Valley Star will increase the total combined contract amount by $800,000, which is necessary due to longer than projected length of stay by consumers and the associated increase in personnel costs of facility staff providing these critical services.
PROCUREMENT
On April 4, 2017 (Item No. 11), as the result of a formal procurement, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Contract No. 17-148 with Valley Star for CRT program services, in the amount of $25,208,333, for the period of April 4, 2017 through June 30, 2022.
On May 23, 2017 (Item No. 40), as the result of a formal procurement, the Board approved Contract No. 17-295 with Valley Star for TAY CRT program services, in the amount of $12,500,000, for the period of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022.
On August 22, 2017 (Item No. 19), as the result of a formal procurement, the Board approved Contract No. 17-709 with Telecare for CRT program services, in the amount of $12,083,333, and Contract No. 17-710 with Valley Star for CRT program, in the amount of $12,083,333, both for the period of September 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022.
On November 6, 2018 (Item No. 13), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 17-709 with Telecare and Contract Nos. 17-148 and 17-710 with Valley Star, updating standard language with no change to the contract amount or contract period.
On June 9, 2020 (Item No. 16), the Board approved the following amendments to contracts, updating standard language, and increasing the contract amounts for 2019-20, with no change to the contract periods:
• Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 17-295 with Valley Star, increasing the contract by $100,000, from $12,500,000 to $12,600,000.
• Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 17-709 with Telecare, increasing the total contract amount by $100,000, from $12,083,333 to $12,183,333.
• Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 17-710 with Valley Star, increasing the total contract amount by $100,000, from $12,083,333 to $12,183,333.
• Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 17-148 with Valley Star, increasing the total contract amount by $200,000, from $25,208,333 to $25,408,333.
The recommended amendments will allow DBH to continue to meet the increased need of consumers requiring CRT and TAY CRT program services and improve administrative efficiencies through June 30, 2022. During 2021-22, DBH will conduct a new procurement for these services. DBH will continue to monitor the contracts on a regular basis to ensure compliance standards are met.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Behavioral Health Contracts (Natalie Kessee, Contract Manager, 388-0869) on May 11, 2021; County Counsel (Dawn Martin, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 11, 2021; Finance (Christopher Lange, Administrative Analyst, 386-8393) on May 21, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on May 21, 2021.