Title
Human Services and Public Health Departments recommending the Board adopt and direct said departments to implement a standardized rate structure, effective January 1, 2008, based on the current State-approved Drug Medi-Cal fee-for-service rate as the ongoing benchmark, for the purchase of therapeutic counseling and other associated or like services for clients of these departments to facilitate a more efficient and cost-effective service delivery system. (Cont'd 9/18/2007, Item 20)
FUNDING: Multiple Federal and State Allocations and Grants.
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: : No change. While the levels of funding available to provide services will not be affected by the standardization of rates, it is expected that the contractual process will be expedited, resulting in a savings of staff time and that funds will be expended more efficiently, resulting in increased services to the community.
Background:
As a result of efforts initiated in 2005 to coordinate and strengthen services to mutual clients, the Human Services and Public Health Departments identified a significant disparity in contractual rates being paid to vendors for like services and recognized a need to establish a consistent rate setting methodology for use with non-County providers. This led to discussions with the other County departments that serve a similar clientele and the concept of a Countywide standardized rate structure. The departments evaluated the scope of services currently being utilized, the rate setting practice of each department, what requirements were being placed on the providers, and how similar counties establish their rates. The California Department of Alcohol and Drug Program uses a standard rate system for substance abuse service reimbursement, known as Drug Medi-Cal. This rate system is the most widely used for reimbursement of substance abuse services by like-sized and neighboring counties of El Dorado (Napa, Shasta, Yolo, Sacramento, and...
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