REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  February  27, 2018
CATEGORY:  Consent - Health and Human Services-8.

SUBJECT:

Second Amendment to the Agreement with Aurora Behavioral Healthcare-Santa Rosa, LLC.

Supervisorial District No. :  ALL

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

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Dean True, Branch Director, HHSA Adult Services

RECOMMENDATION

Approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a retroactive amendment, effective July 1, 2016, to the agreement with Aurora Behavioral Healthcare – Santa Rosa, LLC for the provision of psychiatric inpatient hospitalization services to serve more clients and increase compensation to $300,000 for County Fiscal Years 2016-17 and 2017-18 (for a new maximum compensation not to exceed $700,000), retaining the term of July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2018.

SUMMARY

N/A

DISCUSSION

This second amendment will allow Shasta County to continue to purchase acute psychiatric inpatient services on a fee-for-service basis at Aurora Behavioral Healthcare – Santa Rosa, LLC. (Aurora) located in Santa Rosa, California, for Shasta County patients evaluated and referred by Shasta County clinical staff or designee. All services provided under the terms of the agreement must be preauthorized by Shasta County, or designee, and may be for either voluntary or involuntary placements. In addition to hospital room and board, the specific services purchased from Aurora include all medications, psychiatrist time, and laboratory work.  Aurora bills the patient’s insurance, when applicable, and applies any payments to offset Shasta County costs.  The services provided on a fee-for-service basis, means Shasta County is only obligated to pay for beds when a Shasta County resident utilizes the inpatient services at Aurora.  Additionally, Aurora bills Medi-Cal for services provided to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. In addition to the provision of acute psychiatric inpatient hospitalization services for voluntary patients, Aurora is designated as a facility authorized to provide 72- hour involuntary treatment and evaluation under section 5150 of the Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC), as well as 14-day involuntary intensive treatment under WIC Section 5250. The increase in compensation is necessary due to higher than anticipated use of the facility.    The retroactive nature of this second amendment is due to additional services being provided that were unanticipated by the department. This amendment will add additional funding to continue providing these critical services to clients.

ALTERNATIVES

The Board could choose not to approve the amendment, or to approve the amendment at a lesser amount

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

County Counsel has approved the amendment as to form. Risk Management has approved the amendment. 

FINANCING

The maximum amount of the agreement with Aurora is $100,000 for Fiscal Year 2015-16, and $300,000 per year for Fiscal Years 2016-17 and 2017-18. The agreement is fee-for-service and funds are only expended upon a Shasta County resident utilizing inpatient services at Aurora. Funds for the agreement and subsequent amendments were included in the Fiscal Year 2016-17 Adjusted Budget.  Funds have been included in the 2017-18 Adopted Budget.  There is no additional General Fund impact with the recommended action.