REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  September  12, 2017
CATEGORY:  Consent - Health and Human Services-9.

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Butte County for Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Care

Supervisorial District No. :  All

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Dean True, Branch Director, (530) 225-5900

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Dean True, Branch Director

RECOMMENDATION

Approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a retroactive renewal agreement with the County of Butte in the approximate amount of $37,000 to provide acute psychiatric inpatient care for the period July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.

SUMMARY

The renewal of this agreement will allow Butte County Department of Behavioral Health (Butte) to continue to provide acute psychiatric inpatient services to adults placed by Shasta County in their Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF) located in Chico, California.

DISCUSSION

Under the terms of the agreement, clinical staff (Staff) from Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Adult Services Branch will evaluate individuals to determine if there is a need for acute psychiatric inpatient care.  If hospitalization is deemed appropriate, Staff will coordinate the transfer and admission to the PHF. Butte will also coordinate with Shasta County staff, prior to a patient’s discharge, to insure an appropriate discharge plan is in effect, including transportation if necessary.  All services provided under the terms of this agreement must be preauthorized by Shasta County and may be for either voluntary or involuntary placements.  There is a shortage of inpatient beds in California available to treat individuals requiring this level of care, especially for Medi-Cal clients.  Therefore, HHSA Adult Services Branch strives to keep active agreements with many inpatient facilities in order to increase opportunities to find appropriate placements for individuals in need of inpatient care, and to limit time patients spend waiting in hospital emergency departments.  This agreement is on a fee-for-service basis, meaning Shasta County is only obligated to pay for beds when the County has authorized services at Butte PHF.  Butte will bill patient’s third party payer(s), when applicable, and apply any payments to offset Shasta County’s cost.  Actual costs will be billed based on usage of the PHF, up to a maximum of $37,000, plus other services costs, during the term of the agreement. This renewal agreement is retroactive due to the availability of all parties to negotiate and execute the agreement.

ALTERNATIVES

The Board could choose not to approve the agreement or direct the department to negotiate changes to the agreement.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.  Risk Management has approved the agreement.  This recommendation has been reviewed by the County Administrative Office.

FINANCING

The maximum amount payable under this agreement, excluding transportation, legal and interpreter costs, is approximately $37,000.  Funds for this agreement and related costs such as transportation, legal, and interpreter costs are included in the FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget (BU410). Transportation, legal and interpreter costs are rarely, if ever, incurred, but because they are “uncapped” in this proposed agreement, Board approval is necessary.  Additionally, the County is responsible for all charges for which Butte cannot obtain third-party reimbursement.  Finally, Butte’s daily rate is subject to change without amendment pursuant to the agreement. There is no additional General Fund impact from the recommended action.