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Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Memorandum of Understanding 3732 with Placer County for the reimbursement of Narcotic Treatment Program Service expenses in the amount of $80,000, for the retroactive term July 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018. (Est. Time: 5 Min.)
FUNDING: 100% State Funding: 1991 and 2011 Mental Health Realignment.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On July 28, 2017, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released Mental Health Substance Use Disorder Services Information Notice No. 17-036 (attachment C) which obligates all counties to provide Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) State Plan services to County residents, including services provided in another County, per Section 2: Covered Services of Exhibit A, Attachment 1 of the “State/County” DMC contract and Government Code 30026.5 (e)(5). Information Notice (IN) 17-036 clarified that counties are expected to establish contractual arrangements to ensure that the county of residence is financially responsible to pay for any DMC services being provided to its residents by another county. HHSA is therefore recommending the Board approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 3732 with Placer County (Placer) to reimburse Placer for services provided to residents of El Dorado County.
On July 17, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved Agreement 2454 between El Dorado County (EDC) and Aegis Treatment Center (Aegis), a provider of Narcotic Treatment Program (NTP) Services in Placer. (File ID: 18-0233, Item No. 13)
Historically, NTP Services received in another county by EDC residents were paid for by the County of service. Prior to the execution of Agreement 2454 with Aegis in July 2018, Placer ensured Aegis received payment for both the State and Federal (known as the Federal Financial Participation or FPP) portions of Medi-Cal for EDC residents.
However, according to IN 17-036, starting in fiscal year 2016-17, EDC became the county of responsibility for those non-FFP costs, not Placer. Therefore, this MOU will allow EDC to reimburse Placer for the non-FFP costs it incurred for EDC residents.
In January 2019, upon receipt of the request by Placer County to develop this MOU, the Contracts Unit immediately began processing the documents. The start date of this MOU is retroactive to July 1, 2017, a date identified by Placer as the date they began to incur NTP costs for EDC residents. The end date is July 31, 2018, to coincide with the beginning of Agreement 2454 between EDC and Aegis.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve this MOU, HHSA will be out of compliance with State regulations regarding SUD services provided to El Dorado clients out of county.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 07/17/2018, 18-0233, HHSA Aegis Treatment Center #2454
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel, Human Resources, and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Behavioral Health Department has significant savings as a result of staff vacancies; therefore, those savings will be used to fund this MOU. In addition to funding the MOU, the savings will be used to pay costs that may result from updating the electronic health records of the El Dorado residents that received NTP Services in Placer.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on two (2) original Agreements for Services 3732.
2) Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed Agreement to the HHSA Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Road.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
NA
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director