TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and any subsequent amendments, between the City of Long Beach and Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHA) in the amount of $55,000, as part of the California Community Foundation Grant Integrated Healthcare Project, for the period of December 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHA) applied for, and was subsequently awarded, a one-year grant from the California Community Foundation's Integrated Healthcare Project to provide services to low-income individuals who have serious mental illness.
Under the project guidelines submitted by MHA, a part-time health practitioner would be embedded at the MHA Village in Long Beach. MHA has proposed to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Long Beach, through its Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department), for a Health Department Physician to provide these services. Under this MOU, the Health Department Physician will conduct physical assessments and provide short-term primary care, assist with referrals to specialists, other clinics and agencies, help facilitate patient eligibility for State and federal public assistance programs, and determine and develop quality assurance and quality improvement metrics.
For its work on the grant-funded activities of the project, the City will receive up to $55,000 for 10 months, December 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015, as MHA receives funding from the Foundation. These funds will be used toward the physician position, and payment will be a semiannual advance payment when this MOU is fully executed.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Vu on February 17, 2015 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on February 19, 2015.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on March 24, 2015, in order for the Health Department to receive advance payment for work provided in accordance with the MOU.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive up to $55,000 for the period of December 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015. Sufficient funds are currently appropriated in the Health Fund (SR 130) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HE). No match or in-kind service mandate is required, and there is no local job impact associated with this action.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER