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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the HHSA Behavioral Health Director to sign and submit to State of California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) the Initial Funding Request and Certification form for Behavioral Health Quality Improvement Program (BH-QIP) Start-Up Funds in the amount of $250,000;
2) Delegate authority to the HHSA Behavioral Health Director, or designee, to execute any additional documents, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, including any extension(s) or amendment(s) thereto, related to those specific allocations for the DHCS BH-QIP; and
3) Authorize the HHSA Behavioral Health Director, or designee, or Agency Chief Fiscal Officer or designee, to execute any fiscal or programmatic reports for said funding allocations.
FUNDING: 100% State General Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has created the Behavioral Health Quality Improvement Program (BH-QIP) to incentivize counties to prepare for changes under the California Advancing & Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative, as well as future programs requiring counties to build out new infrastructure and capacity. The BH-QIP will be structured as an incentive program, whereby counties will be required to achieve certain CalAIM implementation milestones to earn incentive payments. A total of $86,602,000 in CalAIM incentives are available from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22, Senate Bill (SB) 129 (Chapter 69; Statutes of 2021), authorized $21,750,000 in State General Fund for the BH-QIP. There will be two sets of payments to counties:
1. Start-up funding amount of $250,000 that will be available to each county in the first and second quarter of FY 2021-22; and
2. Quarterly incentive payments, available after January 2022, following a county’s submission of a DHCS approved implementation plan and the subsequent completion of CalAIM implementation milestones, which must be designed to support a county’s ability to implement the following CalAIM goals:
a. Payment Reform;
b. Medical Necessity, Eligibility Criteria, and Documentation Redesign;
c. Multi-system (e.g., Managed Care, Dental, Behavioral Health) Data Exchange and Care Coordination; and
d. Improve behavioral health data reporting and electronic health record systems.
The start-up funding shall be used at the county’s discretion to achieve the aims above or any other activity that the county determines to fulfill the requirements of CalAIM. Attachment B, a Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) provides details on how counties may claim the first payment, the BH-QIP start-up funding of $250,000. There will be a separate BHIN released in the coming months that will provide information on the quarterly incentive payments, total funds allocation methodology, claiming forms, schedule, and required county milestones. To receive the BH-QIP start-up funds, counties must submit to DHCS the Initial Funding Request and Certification form. The Initial Funding Request and Certification form must be signed by the County Behavioral Health Director certifying that all claiming information sent to DHCS is accurate and complete and in accordance with law. The form must also be signed by the County Auditor Controller, certifying that claims are based on expenditures necessary for claiming BH-QIP funding pursuant to all applicable requirements of the program.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve the submission of the initial funding request, the County would be declining a minimum of $250,000 in funding to respond and prepare for changes under the CalAIM initiative, as well as future programs requiring counties to build out new infrastructure and capacity.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Auditor-Controller has agreed to sign the Initial Funding Request and Certification form as required by DHCS.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with these revenue allocations. HHSA has included this allocation in HHSA’s Fiscal Year 2021-22 Adopted Budget request.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS:
Clerk of the Board to return one (1) signed Certified Minute Order of the agenda item to Health and Human Services Agency, Contracts Unit, 3057 Briw Road.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
County Strategic Goal: “Healthy Communities, Improved Health, Well-being, and Self-sufficiency of El Dorado County communities, residents, and visitors.”
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director, Health and Human Services Agency