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Health Services Department, Mental Health Division, recommending the Board authorize the Chair to sign Agreement 140-S1211 with Clinicians Telemed Medical Group, Inc. in the amount of $260,000 for the term upon full execution through June 30, 2012 for psychiatry services on an “as requested” basis for said Department.
FUNDING: Medi-Cal, Mental Health Realignment & Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)
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BUDGET SUMMARY: |
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Total Estimated Cost |
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$260,000 |
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Funding |
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Budgeted |
$260,000 |
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New Funding |
$ |
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Savings |
$ |
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Other |
$ |
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Total Funding Available |
$260,000 |
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Change To Net County Cost |
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$0 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: This Agreement is funded from the sources noted above. Appropriations are available due to salary savings from unfilled psychiatrist positions. There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agreement.
Compensation for Services: Payments are made to Contractor based upon monthly invoicing, at specified billing rates as detailed on Page 9 of the Agreement, for actual services performed and documented per contract requirements.
Contract Termination: This Agreement includes the County’s standard Fiscal Considerations termination language, as well as a provision for the County to terminate the Agreement without cause upon seven (7) calendar days written notice.
Background: The Health Services Department Mental Health Division has been recruiting for the position of psychiatrist for approximately two years. After repeated unsuccessful attempts to hire psychiatrist staff, the Department has sought alternative solutions to managing the psychiatric workload due to the 2.0 full-time employee (FTE) psychiatrist position allocation vacancies.
The population served by MHD (children with serious emotional disturbance and adults with serious mental illness) typically requires specialty psychiatry/medication services as a core element of their care.
Various attempts to use locum tenens placement services have been unsuccessful; the disparate locations (West Slope and South Lake Tahoe) and the multi-discipline environment (inpatient and outpatient for both juveniles and adults) have created many obstacles to successfully placing psychiatrists.
Clinicians Telemed Medical Group, Inc. (CTMG) is able to perform psychiatric services remotely for the Health Services Department’s Mental Health Division (MHD) by use of telemedicine equipment from its offices in Bakersfield.
Since January, 2011 CTMG has provided a physician who possesses the licensure, training and experience to meet the needs of MHD’s clientele. In addition, this qualified physician met the approval of the MHD Medical Director and is a compatible fit with the population being served.
The Department has determined that the Contractor is successfully meeting the needs of the Department and its clients. Accordingly, the Department is recommending approval of this renewal Agreement to allow continuation of CTMG’s services.
Reason for Recommendation: Approval of this Agreement will allow the continuation of the relationship between CTMG’s psychiatrist and MHD’s clients, which is imperative to successful mental health treatment, and approval of this Agreement will enable consistent and continuous service for those clients receiving treatment from the CTMG physician.
In accordance with Board of Supervisor’s Procurement Policy C-17 Section 7.10, Health Services coordinated the outside review of the scope of services along with the Contractor's qualifications and has provided the results to the Procurement & Contracts Division.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1. Chair to sign three (3) original Agreements.
2. Board Clerk’s Office to return two (2) original Amendments to the Health Services Department, Mental Health Division.
3. Mental Health Division to distribute as appropriate.
Contact: Neda West, Health Services Department
Concurrences: This Agreement has been approved by County Counsel and Risk Management and a copy is on file in the Board Clerk’s Office.