To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Grant Colfax, Health Services Director
Report Title: Rescind Prior Board Action Pertaining to an Agreement with California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA)
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
RESCIND Board action of April 22, 2024 (C.56), which pertained to a contract with the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA); and APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to execute on behalf of the County Agreement #78-056 with the CalMHSA, to pay the County in an amount not to exceed $24,000, for the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification of the Service Provider Individualized Recovery Intensive Training (SPIRIT) Program for the period from January 1, 2025 through October 31, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
CalMHSA will pay the County $1,600 for any individual which is awarded a scholarship and completes the SPIRIT Program. No County match is required.
BACKGROUND:
With the passing of Senate Bill 803 in 2020, peer providers in the behavioral health workforce may now become eligible to bill Medi-Cal for services provided to clients when completing a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Program. The Health Services Department’s Behavioral Health Services Division (BHSD) applied for its SPIRIT Program to become an approved Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Program in 2023. CalMHSA has been designated by the State Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) as the agency which approves training programs to become Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Programs. CalMHSA has reviewed and approved the BHSD’S SPIRIT Program to be a designated Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Program. BHSD hires graduates of its SPIRIT Program to fill the positions of Community Support Workers and Family Partners. Through execution of this agreement, individuals which successfully complete the SPIRIT Program and are hired by BHSD shall be certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists, which will allow them to bill Medi-Cal for services provide to clients. Additionally, since the SPIRIT Program is approved Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Program individuals who are award a scholarship by DHCS and complete the SPIRIT Program will provide up to $1,600 in additional scholarship revenue for the County.
On April 22, 2024 (C.56) the Board of Supervisors approved Agreement #78-056 with CalMHSA, to pay County in an amount not to exceed $24,000 for the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Program for the period January 18, 2024 through January 17, 2026. However, since Board approval, CalMHSA revised the term dates due to CalMHSA prolonged review and the additional review from County’s Chief Information Security Officer.
Approval of this Board action will correct the term to January 1, 2025 through October 31, 2027 to reflect the term dates in the Agreement and the intent of both parties. This Agreement includes County agreeing to indemnify, defend, and hold CalMHSA harmless for any claims arising out of the County’s performance under the Agreement.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this Board action is not approved, the prior Board approval will not match the terms of the Agreement, and the SPIRIT Program will not receive Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification.