To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
From: Health Services
Meeting Date: September 1, 2026
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Department Contact: |
Jenine Miller, Psy.D. |
Phone: |
707-472-2341 |
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Item Type: Consent Agenda |
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Time Allocated for Item: N/A |
Agenda Title:
title
Approval of Agreement (First Amendment to Agreement No. PA 27-08) with Mary Swensen in the Amount of $62,400 for a New Agreement Total of $124,800, to Provide Utilization Review Services Including Treatment Authorization Review to Mendocino County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Clients Placed at Acute Psychiatric Hospitals and Residential Facilities, and Approval to Amend the End Date of the Original Agreement Effective April 1, 2026, through October 30, 2026 to a New End Date of June 30, 2027
Vote Requirement: Majority
End
Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Approve Agreement (first amendment to Agreement No. PA 27-08) with Mary Swensen in the amount of $62,400 for a new Agreement total of $124,800, to provide utilization review services including Treatment Authorization Review (TAR) to Mendocino County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services clients placed at acute psychiatric hospitals and residential facilities, and approval to amend the end date of the original Agreement effective April 1, 2026, through October 30, 2026 to a new end date of June 30, 2027; authorize the Health Services Director or designee to sign any future amendments to the Agreement that do not increase the annual maximum amount; and authorize Chair to sign same.
End
Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:
April 13, 2026, Purchasing Agent Approval 27-08
Summary of Request:
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) requires counties to implement utilization management and prior authorization processes for Specialty Mental Health Services in accordance with Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) 22-017. These requirements include the timely clinical review and authorization of Treatment Authorization Requests (TARs) for inpatient psychiatric hospital services and residential treatment services to ensure that requested services meet medical necessity criteria, comply with applicable state and federal regulations, and support appropriate utilization of Medi-Cal funded behavioral health services. Timely completion of TAR reviews is essential to maintain regulatory compliance, ensure continuity of care for beneficiaries, and support appropriate reimbursement for authorized services.
Mendocino County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) initiated a contract with Mary Swensen, a Registered Nurse on April 1, 2026, to provide specialized utilization review and TAR authorization services and now seeks to continue the agreement through the remainder of FY 2026-2027. Mary Swensen provides clinical review of DHCS medical necessity criteria, utilization management requirements, and mental health treatment authorization processes. These services are critical to maintaining compliance with DHCS requirements and ensuring timely review of authorization requests. The contractor is a unique vendor that offers these highly specialized services, and there are no other vendors currently available and willing to provide comparable services to meet the County's operational and regulatory needs.
Alternative Action/Motion:
Return to staff for alternative handling.
Strategic Plan Priority Designation: A Safe and Healthy County
Supervisorial District: All
Supplemental Information Available Online At: N/A
Fiscal Details:
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source of funding: 4050 |
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current f/y cost: $124,800 |
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budget clarification: N/A |
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annual recurring cost: No |
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budgeted in current f/y (if no, please describe): Yes |
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revenue agreement: No |
AGREEMENT/RESOLUTION/ORDINANCE APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNSEL: Yes
CEO Liaison: Executive Office
CEO Review: Yes
CEO Comments:
FOR COB USE ONLY
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Executed By: Deputy Clerk |
Final Status: Item Status |
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Date: Date Executed |
Executed Item Type: item |
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Number: |
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