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Board Agenda Item 23
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DATE: January 7, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Dawan Utecht, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Retroactive Master Agreement with Licensed Providers for the Provision of
Telemedicine Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive Master Agreement with
Licensed Providers for the provision of Telemedicine Services for severely mentally ill
adults, children and adolescents effective January 1, 2020, not to exceed four and a half
years, which includes a two and a half year base contract and two optional one-year
extensions, total not to exceed $33,101,120.
2. Authorize the Director, Department of Behavioral Health, to add or delete licensed
Providers to the recommended Master Agreement.
Approval of the first recommended action will allow the County to provide telemedicine psychiatry and
related mental health services through the use of video conferencing to severely mentally ill adults, children
and adolescents to minimize the risk of hospitalizations. Approval of the second recommended action will
allow the Director of the Department of Behavioral Health to add or delete licensed Providers to the
recommended Master Agreement with no Net County Cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
The non-approval of the recommended actions would prevent the department from providing severely
mentally ill adults, children and adolescents with telemedicine psychiatry and related mental health services.
This action may result in individuals requiring costly acute inpatient psychiatric services.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended agreement is retroactive to January 1, 2020 due to extended contract negotiations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The maximum cost of
the recommended Agreement is$33,101,120 and will be financed with Mental Health Realignment funds,
Mental Health Services Act funds and Medi-Cal funds. Actual costs will be determined by actual services
provided and will not exceed $3,452,800 for January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020. Sufficient
appropriations and estimated revenues are available in the Behavioral Health Org 5630 FY 2019-20 Adopted
Budget.
County of Fresno page 1 File Number.19-1612
File Number: 19-1612
DISCUSSION:
Telemedicine is an innovative method for the provision of medication support services. It involves the use of
video conferencing between the physician and the patient. The provision of medication support services to
the County's mentally ill adult and child adolescent population is often necessary to alleviate the symptoms
of mental illness. Medication support services are essential to individuals' treatment plans that are designed
to stabilize their mental illness. The recommended Master Agreement would allow for the provision of
medication support services to Fresno County's mentally ill adult and child adolescent population through
the utilization of telemedicine provided by licensed providers. Medication Support services provided through
the recommended agreement consist of 1)evaluation of the need for psychotropic medication, 2) evaluation
of clinical effectiveness and side effects, and 3) prescription of psychotropic medication.
Through the terms of the recommended Master Agreement, actual cost will be determined by usage but will
not exceed $33,101,120 over the entire length of the Agreement. The recommended Master Agreement also
includes language which allows for the Department's Director to add or delete licensed providers without
affecting the compensation paid to other providers.
Through the County's Purchasing Division, Request for Proposal (RFP)#20-013 for Telemedicine Services
was released on September 20, 2019 and closed on October 16, 2019 with six (6) bids received. Bidders at
the evaluation panel reached a consensus to recommend award for the contract to Iris Telehealth Medical
Group and American Telepsychiatrists.
Recommendation for the award was based on both Iris Telehealth Medical Group and American
Telepsychiatrists' thorough knowledge of the services they would be providing. As the incumbent vendor,
American Telepsychiatrists has been working with the Department since early 2010, lending to a seamless
transition to the resulting new contract. Iris Telehealth Medical Group currently has providers delivering
services in Madera County and is familiar with the desired services.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The Mental Health Board has been made aware of the recommended agreement at its November 20, 2019
Board Meeting.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk- Master Agreement for Telemedicine Services
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander
County of Fresno Page 2 File Number.19-1612