Title
Health and Human Services Agency, Behavioral Health Division, recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 447-S1711 with Netsmart Technologies, for the provision of the Netsmart Avatar electronic health record and billing system, for the term May 22, 2017 through May 31, 2022, with a maximum contractual obligation of $750,000; and
2) Authorize the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute further documents relating to Agreement for Services 447-S1711, including amendments which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement, and contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: Medi-Cal, Mental Health Realignment and Mental Health Services Act.
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION:
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board approve and authorize Agreement for Services 447-S1711 for the continued provision of the Netsmart Avatar electronic database and billing system service, allowing for timely and accurate Medi-Cal billing while ensuring that the County continues to conform with the global healthcare transition from paper to electronic health care records, as well as maintaining continued compliance with the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
In 2005, the Board approved a Mental Health Agreement to contract with the California Regional Mental Health Systems Coalition Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to develop an integrated information systems infrastructure. The JPA members researched available software systems suitable for Mental Health records and billing that satisfied the requirements of the California Medi-Cal system. As a result, the JPA selected and implemented the Avatar system, a product of the Netsmart Technologies Corporation, to achieve this goal and meet the State requirements.
Despite the quality and success of the product, the Application Service Provider (A...
Click here for full text