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Approve a second contract amendment with Aldea, Inc. for $490,000 for a total contract amount of $1,400,000 to increase medically necessary outpatient mental health services for children and adolescents under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Medi-Cal Program for the current period through June 30, 2024; and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the amendment and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999
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Published Notice Required? Yes _____ No __X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _____ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services (H&SS) recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve a second contract amendment with Aldea, Inc. for $490,000 for a total contract amount of $1,400,000 to increase medically necessary outpatient mental health services for children and adolescents under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Medi-Cal Program for the current period through June 30, 2024; and delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the amendment and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On June 27, 2023, the Board approved a contract with Aldea, Inc. for $910,000 for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 to provide outpatient mental health services for children and adolescents under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Medi-Cal Program. The County is required to provide EPSDT mental health services to clients under 21 years of age that are covered under the Medi-Cal program and found to be medically necessary in order to ameliorate and reduce mental health symptoms.
The first contract amendment was executed on February 7, 2024, to update the provider rate costs without impacting the original contract amount. This second amendment represents an increase of $490,000 to continue support to the existing program. Services provided include assessment, individual therapy, rehabilitation, group therapy, group rehabilitation, family therapy, case management, plan development, medication management, crisis intervention and intensive case coordination. The intent of Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment is to assure that children receive early detection and care, so that health problems are averted or diagnosed and treated as early as possible and to support individual children in getting the healthcare they need when they need it.
Multiple EPSDT contractors have experienced staffing issues, leaving them unable to serve the number of clients they had proposed to serve. However, Aldea has been able to staff effectively which is allowing them to meet the needs of children and adolescents covered under the EPSDT program and to serve more clients. As behavioral and mental health challenges continue to increase among Solano County’s youth, funding to bolster staffing capacity and limit waiting times is vital to serving children requiring these services.
In FY2022/23, Aldea served 180 children/youth; as of January 2024, Aldea has served 161 children/youth, indicating an increase in the number that will be served in FY2023/24. With the Board of Supervisors’ approval of this amendment, Aldea will provide more children and young adults with outpatient mental health services under the EPSDT Medi-Cal Program.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Aldea contract is funded by the Short Doyle Medi-Cal federal financial participation (FFP), Short Doyle Medi-Cal State General Fund (SGF), and 2011 Realignment funds. This second contract amendment increases the contract by $490,000 for a new total contract amount of $1,400,000. Appropriations for this contract amendment are included in the Department’s FY2023/24 Working Budget. There is no additional impact to the County General Fund.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to approve the contract amendment. This is not recommended as it would prevent the County from providing required and medically necessary EPSDT services to children under 21 years of age who are currently enrolled in Medi-Cal. These services are vital to ensuring that children and adolescents receive appropriate mental health services to correct and alleviate their mental health symptoms.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION