title
Approve a contract with California Mental Health Services Authority for $115,175 in support of the Interoperability Solution Platform designed to support State and federal interoperability mandates and improve behavioral health coordination of care for the current period through June 30, 2027; Delegate authority to the County Administrator or designee to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to a fiscal year aggregate of $74,999; and Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request for $115,175 in unanticipated revenue offset by contracted services (4/5 vote required)
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve a contract with California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) for $115,175 in support of the Interoperability Solution Platform designed to support State and federal interoperability mandates and improve behavioral health coordination of care for the current period through June 30, 2027;
2. Delegate authority to the County Administrator or designee to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to a fiscal year aggregate of $74,999; and
3. Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) for $115,175 in unanticipated revenue offset by contracted services (4/5 vote required).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
California has established statewide requirements to improve the secure and timely exchange of health information among healthcare providers, health plans, and other organizations involved in patient care. The California Data Exchange Framework (DxF), established under Assembly Bill 133, requires covered healthcare organizations to exchange health information to improve care coordination, reduce gaps in services, and support better health outcomes. In addition, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has established specific data-sharing requirements for county behavioral health programs and Medi-Cal managed care plans.
In March 2026, DHCS issued Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) 26-013, clarifying requirements for county behavioral health programs to securely exchange health information in real time with Medi-Cal managed care plans and other healthcare partners. These requirements include the transmission and receipt of Admission, Discharge, and Transfer (ADT) notifications, which electronically alert healthcare providers when a patient is admitted to, discharged from, or transferred between healthcare facilities. Timely access to this information allows providers to coordinate treatment, arrange follow-up services, and support continuity of care, particularly for individuals receiving services from multiple healthcare systems.
To support compliance with these requirements and applicable federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) interoperability rules, Solano County Health and Social Services, Behavioral Health Division, is recommending entering into an agreement with the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) to implement the Connex Interoperability Platform. Connex is a health information exchange platform designed for county behavioral health systems that enables secure, standards-based exchange of protected health information and connectivity with other healthcare organizations through statewide and national exchange networks.
The platform will provide Solano County with the technical capabilities to transmit and receive ADT notifications and exchange health information with participating healthcare partners. The agreement includes the Connex subscription, access to approved exchange networks, implementation support, training, and ongoing technical assistance. Implementation will strengthen coordination between behavioral health and physical healthcare providers, improve the timely sharing of patient information, and support the County's efforts to meet state and federal data-sharing requirements.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Federal Short Doyle Administrative revenue, State General Fund, and 2011 Realignment will fund this agreement. Funding for this contract was not included in the FY2026/27 Adopted Budget and therefore an ATR of $115,175 is needed to add appropriations and unanticipated revenue to the budget (4/5 vote required). County General Fund is not impacted.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to approve this contract. This is not recommended because Solano County must comply with DHCS’s statewide interoperability mandates, which require secure, standards-based health information exchange and real-time data sharing, making the CalMHSA Connex solution essential for meeting these requirements.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
H&SS has worked with the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) to review the agreement and on the necessary implementation. County Counsel has reviewed and approved the agreement as to form.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION