The County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a significant initiative on Tuesday aimed at expanding the availability of beds for Medi-Cal eligible county residents seeking mental health treatment. This endeavor, presented by Supervisor Joel Anderson, instructs Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of sub-acute and board-and-care facilities within the jurisdiction of each supervisor.
Robbins-Meyer has been tasked with delivering a report within 180 days, detailing the required number of beds and proposing strategies for their implementation. Crucially, the report will also highlight which of these beds may be eligible for reimbursement by the federal government.
It’s worth noting that Medi-Cal is California’s counterpart to Medicaid, providing essential health services to low-income individuals, encompassing families, senior citizens, and those with disabilities.
Prior to the unanimous vote, Supervisor Anderson underscored the significance of adult residential and board-and-care facilities, emphasizing their critical role in offering around-the-clock care and supervision to vulnerable adults grappling with behavioral or mental health conditions. These facilities are integral to the housing landscape of the community.
Anderson further highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by such facilities, with operational costs rising while state reimbursement rates for the Medi-Cal population continue to fall short. The closure of several facilities within the county over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue.
As the regional homeless crisis persists, the demand for licensed board and care facilities has grown within the context of permanent housing solutions. Anderson stressed the necessity of addressing the transitional needs of individuals moving from sub-acute care to independent living and those dealing with mental health issues.
The comprehensive review, Anderson stated, will serve as a vital step in bridging the regional gap in bed availability, reducing costs, and alleviating pressure on hospitals, jails, homeless shelters, and other institutions that are currently bearing the brunt of this issue.
In response to the proposal, board Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer expressed her support, acknowledging the critical role of Medi-Cal in providing mental health care to some residents. She noted that the shortage of beds to meet this need is a pressing concern, but reassured that the county’s Behavioral Health department is actively working to expand board-and-care bed capacity.
Lawson-Remer added, “We have pursued funding to help people who cannot afford private care options, done the analysis, and have a strategy in place now to grow bed capacity.” This initiative represents a significant step toward addressing the mental health care needs of the county’s most vulnerable residents.
