DATE: March 12, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Dawan Utecht, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Agreement with the Regents of the University of California for Psychiatry Fellowship Training for Primary Care Providers
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Make a finding that it is in the best interest of the County to suspend the competitive bidding process consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34, when the contract is with a federal, state or local governmental agency for the solicitation of Special Training Courses; and,
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with the Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the University of California, at Irvine to provide psychiatric training for primary care providers effective March 12, 2019 through December 31, 2019 ($232,500).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Department of Behavioral Health to provide specialized psychiatric fellowship training through the University of California at Irvine (UC Irvine) Extension campus for up to 15 providers during the 2019 calendar year. The recommend agreement will be funded with Mental Health Services Act - Workforce, Education and Training (MHSA - WET) funds, with no increase to Net County Cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. UC Irvine is the only agency that provides specialized training for statewide psychiatric fellowship to primary care providers geared for counties. Similar training is provided to other agencies throughout California and their experienced trainers understand the requirements and subject matter for trainees in a psychiatry fellowship program.
SUSPENSION OF COMPETITION/SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT:
The Department’s request to waive the competitive bidding process is consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34 based upon the Regents of the University of California status as a State governmental agency and is the only agency that provides specialized training for statewide psychiatric fellowship to primary care providers geared for counties. Based on this, a letter of interest was not necessary. The Internal Services Department - Purchasing concurs with the Department’s request to suspend the competitive bidding process
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The maximum amount of the recommended agreement for FY 2018-19 ($232,500) will be fully offset with MHSA - WET funding. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5630 FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
UC Irvine provides a year-long clinical education certificate program for primary care oriented trainees and providers such as internal medicine, family medicine, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, psychiatric nursing, emergency medicine and neurology, who wish to receive advanced training in primary care psychiatry. Primary care psychiatry is targeted to the most frequently encountered mental health related disorders and treatments found in the Primary Care setting.
The main goal of the Training for Trainers (TNT) Primary Care Provider (PCP) Fellowship is to provide mentorship and training in the area of primary care psychiatry. Trainees will learn how to complete an evidence-based and efficient psychiatric interview in the busy primary care or medical setting. Additionally, the trainees will be trained to effectively diagnose and treat commonly encountered psychiatric conditions such as: mood, anxiety, psychotic, and substance misuse disorders. Lastly, trainees will learn how to teach these principles to their primary care colleagues.
As part of the approved MHSA plan, and in alignment with MHSA core values, the Department will provide up to 15 stipends in the amount of $15,500 to eligible and approved primary care practitioners who operate within the County for the purposes of:
1) integrating primary care and behavioral health services in primary care settings within the County;
2) expanding services for the mild-to-moderate mental health diagnoses;
3) expanding behavioral healthcare access in underserved communities;
4) expanding culturally and linguistically appropriate services; and,
5) reducing stigma and discrimination associated with mental health concerns by increasing opportunities to seek services in non-stigmatizing settings.
The recommended agreement has a mutual indemnification clause reviewed and approved by the Human Resources - Risk Management Division.
The Department has a second agreement with the University of California, on behalf of UC Davis Extension, Center for Human Services. The recommended agreement utilizes UC Irvine contract model which differs from the County’s model contract, includes mutual indemnification language, and allows for termination for any reason by either party upon giving a 30-day advanced written notice.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #26, January 9, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Suspension of Competition Acquisition Request
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Regents of the University of California
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander