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HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY / MENTAL HEALTH
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a) AGREEMENT - Request approval and authorization for the Executive Director to sign the Amendment #3 with Thomas Milam MD, Inc. dba Iris Telehealth Medical Group (Misc. Agree #2022-194 as amended by Misc. Agree #2023-52 and Misc. Agree #2023-351), for the purpose of locating and arranging for Telepsychiatry Adult Psychiatrists, Telepsychiatry Child Psychiatrists, Telepsychiatry Nurse Practitioners, Telepsychiatry Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists, Telepsychiatry Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and Telepsychiatry Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors to provide locum tenens medical services, thereby increasing the compensation amount not to exceed $555,000, effective 7/1/22 through 6/30/24
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Financial Impact:
The maximum compensation is increasing by $25,000, budget unit 40131. Services will be paid for with Mental Health Realignment, Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) and Short-Doyle Medi Cal funds allocated for medically necessary services. There is no impact to the general fund.
Background Information:
This Amendment #3 will increase the maximum compensation amount by $25,000 to cover invoices for fiscal year 23/24. The vendor locates and arranges for professionals to provide specialty mental health services for the Department during periods of staffing shortages or vacation coverage. The Department has had ongoing shortages in the Mental Health division for licensed mental health professionals despite continuous recruitments. The Department has one filled position out of eight Behavioral Health Clinician I/II allocations, which is an 87% vacancy rate, and one position filled out of two Behavioral Health Clinician III allocations, which is a 50% vacancy rate.
The vendor has been helping to fill the vacancies and provide the necessary services to clients in Tehama County as required under our specialty mental health services managed care contract with the Department of Health Care Services.
In the month of June 2024, the vendor was successful in recruiting an additional Telehealth Licensed Clinical Social Worker for the Department. This allowed the Department to provide essential services for mentally ill clients. This increased the cost for the month of June beyond what had been anticipated. Salary savings from aforementioned vacancies are available within the budget.