Authorize the Chair to execute a renewal agreement with CommuniCare Health Centers to provide Woodland Community College behavioral, physical and social services in compliance with the new California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative in an amount not-to-exceed $315,000 for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. (No general fund impact) (Sullivan)

On or about September 24, 2020, the County issued a formal request for proposal (details in the Competitive Bid Process section, below) to solicit a provider to provide school based physical healthcare, behavioral healthcare, and related social services in a client-centered, culturally, and linguistically competent manner to improve beneficiary health and well-being of Woodland Community College (WCC) students, with a sensitivity to providing Spanish-speaking and Russian-speaking services. Services have taken place at the three (3) Woodland Community College campuses, located in Woodland, Williams and Clearlake, as well as CommuniCare’s three (3) primary care service locations, located in Woodland, West Sacramento and Davis.

The resulting agreement was awarded to CommuniCare Health Centers and on June 8, 2021, the County and CommuniCare Health Centers entered into Agreement No. 21-120, which provided an initial term of January 19, 2021 through June 30, 2023. It is unclear why the RFP was only drafted for only a 3-year procurement cycle, instead of the standard 5-year procurement cycle. As such, the agreement did not offer any optional extensions. However, these services will be included in the Yolo County 2023-2026 Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Plan.

California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Initiative
In January 2022, California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) rolled out the CalAIM initiative that aims to provide broad delivery system program and payment reform across the Medi-Cal system. The goal is transformation of the Medi-Cal delivery system, moving it towards a population health approach that prioritizes prevention and whole person care. Focus shifts from compliance to quality and performance metrics. Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) requirements and policies pursuant to the CalAIM initiative were updated, and as a result of these updates, the County is required to revise the terms and conditions in the provider agreements for these services.  In preparation for this system-wide change, the County has been working closely with CalMHSA who has been providing the County and other SMHS Medi-Cal counties with technical assistance around the CalAIM initiative. The County has received new boilerplate templates from CalMHSA for both DMC/SUD treatment services and SMHS Medi-Cal services that include updated programmatic regulatory requirements and updated billing/claiming requirements. County is working on finalizing a new Yolo County SMHS Medi-Cal boilerplate that is in compliance with these changes, a draft of which is attached hereto as Att. A. Draft Yolo County SMHS boilerplate.

The renewal agreement requested in this staff report will be drafted and executed on the finalized Yolo County SMHS boilerplate. County Counsel and the Procurement Division are participating in the review and finalization of the Yolo County SMHS boilerplate. However, due to the timeliness in which the County has been receiving information from DHCS, especially regarding rates, final boilerplate language is still pending.  Approval of this request herein will enable HHSA to expedite processing and approval of the renewal agreement to minimize any lapse in services once we have all of the information from DHCS and have negotiated final rates with our providers.

Due to significant regulatory and claiming changes driven by the CalAIM initiative, the current agreement cannot be extended on the same terms and conditions and must be replaced by a renewal agreement. HHSA now requests BOS approval of a one-year extension of the procurement for a renewal agreement with CommuniCare Health Centers, for the provision of Woodland Community College behavioral, physical and social services in an amount not to exceed $315,000 for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, and delegated signing authority to the Yolo County Board Chair to assist with expediting execution of the renewal agreement.

Performance Measures
Performance measures were included in Agreement No. 21-120 See Att. B. Performance Measures. These performance measures or similar performance measures will also be included in the renewal agreement.

County Counsel - review and approval of the Yolo County SMHS boilerplate
County Counsel - review and approval of the resulting renewal agreements as to form
Department of General Services, Procurement Division
CalMHSA - technical assistance with CalAIM Initiative

On September 24, 2020, the County issued a competitive solicitation via a request for proposals (RFP) from qualified community-based healthcare providers to provide physical healthcare, behavioral healthcare and related social services to college students at the Woodland Community College. The RFP was open for 41 of days, just under 6 weeks, and staff offered potential bidders an opportunity to ask questions during a Mandatory Bidders’ Conference on October 7, 2020.  Bidders were offered the opportunity to submit proposals by dropping off a paper proposal directly at HHSA.

The County received one proposal(s) from this solicitation.  The proposal submitted by CommuniCare Health Centers was evaluated and determined to meet all the required qualifications necessary to successfully provide these services. Additional information regarding the Competitive Bid Process is provided below, including a summary of the RFP evaluation criteria.

Evaluation Criteria Included in RFP

Bids Received

HHSA confirms CommuniCare Health Centers has performed satisfactorily under Agreement No. 21-120. Thus, pursuant to the authority provided to the County Procurement Manager as the County Purchasing Agent under the current Yolo County Procurement Policy, the Procurement Manger has determined that it is in the best interest of the County to enter into a one-year renewal agreement, based on satisfactory service and to avoid the interruption of County business.  A formal solicitation for these services is planned to be released in FY 2023-24 and a resulting agreement will be issued for FY2024-25. These services will be included in the Yolo County 2023-2026 MHSA Plan.