Behavioral Health to increase fees

In keeping with state mental health guidelines, Plumas County Behavioral Health is adjusting and increasing its fee schedule for the current fiscal year.

Members of the Plumas County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved that schedule Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Beginning last year Behavioral Health Director Tony Hobson reviewed and adjusted rates for patient fees, he reminded supervisors.

Last year’s cost report was based on 2015-2016 expenses, Hobson explained. “Based on the cost for those years and the unsettled cost reported for 2018-2019 it is necessary to adjust and increase the fee schedule for 2019-2020,” he said.

Hobson recommended that supervisors review the new proposed fees and approve them. These rates align with the last two submitted cost reports to the state.

He presented supervisors with the new fee schedule for outpatient services, case management, acute hospital inpatient services and the uniform fee schedule. This includes Medi-Cal, insurance and client fees.

A cost comparison for patient fee billing rates for mental health services shows an overall increase of $1.83 per staff minute. The new rates are $6.13 per staff minute compared to $4.30 last year. That totaled more than $2.4 million in 2017-18. For the current fiscal year new rates will bring the amount to more than $3.46 million.

Medication support, crisis intervention and case management brokerage services also show increases.

The total for billed minutes in 2017-18 was $3.1 million. The current rate brings that total to more than $4.7 million — a difference of more than $1.6 million.