WHEREAS, the State Department of Health Services' Plan for Medi-Cal Managed Mental Health Care specifies that the most effective system of the delivery of Medi-Cal mental health services will be through mental health plans administered by County mental health department, thus carving these services out of the models for physical health care, and consolidating the two existing Medi-Cal funding streams into a single County-run system; and,
WHEREAS, the State's plan has been implemented in phases, beginning with the consolidation of the State funding and responsibility for inpatient Medi-Cal mental health services at the County level on January 1, 1995, and incorporating the consolidation of the State funding and responsibility for all outpatient Medi-Cal mental health services at the County level on April 1, 1998, resulting in the creating of a single San Francisco Health Plan; and,
WHEREAS, the State requirements for the San Francisco Mental Health Plan, including the medical necessity criteria, will have the effect of expanding access for individuals with San Francisco Medi-Cal, but does not provide for indigent and uninsured San Francisco residents; and,
WHEREAS, the Community Mental Health System has always treated Medi-Cal beneficiaries, indigent and uninsured individuals alike; and,
WHEREAS, the City and County of San Francisco is committed to protecting public mental health services and safety net services for the indigent and uninsured mentally ill in San Francisco County; and,
WHEREAS, the City and County of San Francisco is at risk for the many high cost services used by individuals with mental illness if timely, effective and coordinated treatment is not provided, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Health Commission supports the intent of the Department of Public Health, Community Mental Health Services, to provide a single standard of access and care for San Francisco indigent and uninsured residents and Medi-Cal beneficiaries; and,
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Health Commission recommends that the Department of Public Health develop a budget estimate for fiscal year 1998-99 that reflects this policy; and,
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Health Commission recommends that the Department of Public Health fund this increase in indigent and uninsured mental health services for the period April 1 through June 30, 1998, through existing resources.
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Health Commission at its meeting of Tuesday, December 9, 1997.
Sandy Ouye Mori, Executive Secretary to the Health Commission