Memorandum
Date: January 14, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Elise Jones, Director of Behavioral Health Services
Subject: Approve Amendment No. 1 of Agreement Between County of Lake and Sacramento Behavioral Health Care Hospital LLC for Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital Services and Professional Services Associated with Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitalizations for FY 2024-25 in the Amount of $250,000.00
Executive Summary:
The County Mental Health Plan (MHP) in California is obligated to ensure access to a full continuum of mental health services, including acute inpatient psychiatric care, as part of its responsibilities to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) and Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) guidelines outline these obligations.
Here are some key points about the MHP's obligations regarding acute inpatient psychiatric hospitals:
1. Obligation to Ensure Access to Acute Inpatient Care
* California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 5775 mandates that the County MHP ensure that individuals under its care have access to necessary mental health services, including inpatient psychiatric services when required. Specifically, MHPs are expected to ensure that clients who need acute psychiatric care can be referred to appropriate facilities, including hospitals.
* The WIC Section 5776 further reinforces that MHPs must work to ensure access to inpatient psychiatric care and other services that contribute to the recovery of individuals with serious mental health conditions. MHPs often do this through contracts with hospitals and other providers to provide services such as inpatient care, crisis stabilization, and detoxification services.
2. Contracts with Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals
* MHPs are required to contract with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitals or other designated inpatient facilities to ensure that individuals needing inpatient care have access to t...
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