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HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY - Executive Director Jayme Bottke
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Requested Action(s)
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a) AGREEMENT - Request approval and authorization for the Executive Director to sign the agreement with Antonio Carbonell, JR, DC for the purpose of providing direct chiropractic services at the Tehama County Health Services Agency Outpatient Clinic, with the maximum compensation not to exceed $125,000, effective 5/15/25, and shall terminate on 6/30/27
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Financial Impact:
The costs of contract will be reimbursed by the Medi-Cal program.
Background Information:
Chiropractic care is a critical need for the Medi-Cal population in Tehama County. Currently there are no chiropractors accepting Medi-Cal or Partnership in Red Bluff or Tehama County. As we move toward a reduction in opioid prescribing in Tehama County, having a chiropractor available for this population of focus is important. Studies have shown that chiropractic care reduces the use of opioid medication by 50% and may reduce the need for expensive spinal surgeries and is a more affordable way to treat back and neck pain.
Adding chiropractic care to our scope of services provided at the Health Services Agency Clinic will enable TCHSA to apply to have the Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS) re-evaluate our reimbursement rate. Currently, the Clinic has some of the lowest reimbursement rates under the perspective payment system for Rural Health Clinics in California. This review of our rate will re-align our reimbursement rate to our current costs. The expected result will be a higher reimbursement rate for each Medi-Cal patient seen at the Health Services Agency Clinic.