MEETING DATE: 5/24/2022
DEPARTMENT: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
DEPT HEAD/DIRECTOR: Ray Espinosa
AGENDA ITEM PREPARER: Jazmin Williams
SBC DEPT FILE NUMBER: 810
SUBJECT:
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH- R. ESPINOSA
Approve contract renewal with DRWanted.com for Psychiatry Services in an amount not to exceed $375,000.00 for the term of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
SBC FILE NUMBER: 810
AGENDA SECTION:
CONSENT AGENDA
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
DRWanted.com provides recruitment and placement of physician, M.D. specialists, including psychiatrists. The Behavioral Health Department has multiple contracts with similar organizations as there is never a guarantee these organizations can successfully source a psychiatrist 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 be in the best position to ensure no lapse in the essential service of psychiatry.
Many county mental health departments in the Bay Area and other parts of the state utilize the services of Locum Tenen’s organizations to fill their need for Psychiatry services. DRWanted is our source for Dr. Myra Becraft, M.D., a Psychiatrist who is currently delivering services for approximately 166 individuals receiving their care through County Behavioral Health. To ensure ongoing psychiatry coverage and continuity of care, we use staffing agencies as these to ensure that we have consistent psychiatrists for our patients. We are experiencing an impaction of need for the already scarce resource of Psychiatrists as healthcare organizations throughout California are aggressively recruiting Psychiatrists. They are also offering high rates of pay that make it very difficult for small counties to compete. Also, the continued growth of MHSA funded programs and increased Medi-Cal and Insurance coverage that includes access to Behavioral Health Care has increased the volume of clients requiring psychiatry medication services. This contract will be funded through MHSA funds, Medi-Cal revenue generation, realignment funds and some private insurance payment.
(1) OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT: Individuals receiving mental health services at the County Jail and Juvenile Hall receive psychiatric medication support services through the Behavioral Health Department.
RESOLUTION OR ORDINANCE NEEDED FOR THIS ITEM:
No
CONTRACT NEEDED FOR THIS ITEM:
Yes
CONTRACT AND RFP HISTORY:
There have been 2 previous contracts between SBCBH and DRWANTED.COM
Based on the BOS presentation from January 25, 2022, an RFP for such contract is not advised due to this contractor being a staffing agency that allows for a placement of state mandated psychiatrists at Behavioral Health agencies. In order to preserve continuity of care for clients, an ongoing secure contract with these hard to recruit psychiatrist staffing agencies is essential to the operations of the department.
LAST CONTRACT AMOUNT OR N/A:
$375,000.00
STATE IF THIS IS A NEW CONTRACT/ HOW MANY PAST AMENDED CONTRACTS/ OR N/A:
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
BUDGETED:
Yes
Budget Adjustment Needed: No
Unfunded Mandate (Is this a mandate not funded by the State): No