MEETING DATE: 7/26/2016
DEPARTMENT: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
DEPT HEAD/DIRECTOR: Alan Yamamoto
AGENDA ITEM PREPARER:
SBC DEPT FILE NUMBER: 810
SUBJECT:
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT - A. YAMAMOTO
Approve contract with Medical Doctor Associates LLC, for Psychiatry Services for the period of July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, in an amount not to exceed $375,000.00.
SBC FILE NUMBER: 810
AGENDA SECTION:
CONSENT AGENDA
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
Medical Doctor Associates LLC, is known nationally for its recruitment and placement of high quality physician, M.D. specialists, including psychiatrists. Although the Behavioral Health Department recently initiated similar contracts with other organizations, there is never a guarantee that these organizations can successfully source a psychiatrist for our department and within and for the time periods we require. Because psychiatrists are in such high demand and considered to be in the category of healthcare professional shortage, it is prudent that we have multiple psychiatry sourcing entities under contract to allow us to be in the best position to ensure no lapse in essential service areas such as psychiatry.
Many county mental health departments in the Bay Area and other parts of the state utilize the services of multiple Locum Tenen’s organizations to fill their need for Psychiatry services. Retaining the services of Medical Doctor Associates LLC, adds to our ability to expand psychiatry time and to ensure ongoing psychiatry coverage at a time of psychiatry resource scarcity. We are experiencing an impaction of need for the already scarce resource of Psychiatrists as we compete with the California Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and many private provider service delivery organizations throughout the USA that are aggressively recruiting Psychiatrists. They are also offering high rates of pay that make it very difficult for counties to compete. Also, the continued growth of MHSA and Affordable Care Act funding for services has increased the volume of clients seeking psychiatrist provided outpatient medication services. Consequently additional Psychiatry time has been a necessary resource to acquire for all counties. This contract will be paid through MHSA funds, MediCal revenue generation, already existing realignment funds that were previously designated for the purchase of psychiatry services and to a small degree private insurance payment.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT: Individuals receiving mental health services at the County Jail and Juvenile Hall detainees receive medication support services through the Behavioral Health Department
BUDGETED:
Yes
SBC BUDGET LINE ITEM NUMBER:
CURRENT FY COST:
$375,000
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
1) Approve the contract with Medical Doctor Associates LLC, for the period of July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 for a maximum annual total of $375,000 and;
2) Authorize the Board Chair to sign said contract.
ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL: No