MHSA Project Proposal Status & Process

Since the horse and the cart seem to keep changing position in the MHSA funding / project application process, I thought I would do a brief update here (but ACHSA newsletters and DMH CPTT meetings will give you best detailed updates) and clarify what your next steps should be, and in what sequence, based on my understanding and opinions ( as always!) .....

MHSA Project Funding Update (a.k.a. MHSA Contract Provider Technological Needs Project (CPTNP):

The final steps to begin MHSA project spending and the reimbursement process, are (drum roll please):

A) The new Funding Agreement must be approved by the Board of Supervisors; it is still in the review process that must occur prior to filing for the Board Agenda. This agreement will be the basis for CPTNP contracts, i.e. the County's new contract with each provider (providers that wish reimbursement for MHSA projects). They hope to be on the agenda in December.

B) Providers execute their new CPTNP contract with the County. The earliest date that LACDMH anticipates being able to begin establishing contracts for funding Provider MHSA Projects is January 2010. Which is contingent upon ... #1 thru #4 below, providers must have an approved MHSA project proposal!

C) LACDMH must hire staff to support the MHSA Contract Provider Technological Needs Project (CPTNP). I.e. the staff/committees to review provider project proposals and provide feedback and approvals. Note: they had to get an exception to hire (due to current hiring freeze) and now are having difficulty finding qualified candidates.

and maybe D) ... Now, keep in mind that a new wrinkle has been injected into the process............will they change the funding allocation model? (i.e. the $amount$ of MHSA funding each contract provider has been allocated to be reimbursed).

• LACDMH has opened the allocation process for discussion (entertaining a request I imagine) to recalculate the agency MHSA funding allocations. This will not change the size of the overall pot that providers are splitting.
  
• This would mean that some agencies will have their allocation reduced and some will get more.
  
• This also means there will likely be further delays in the approval and reimbursement process. i.e. your project application approval will be delayed, therefore, your spending will need to be delayed.

So, after the above A) thru C) items are completed, and possible D), the re-allocation model.... the sequence of events contract providers need to handle looks like this:

1. select an EHR-S product or EDI solution, get final bid and schedule


2. decide what exactly your "MHSA project(s)" will be (see more on this later)
   
3. develop your "MHSA project" budget & schedule


4. submit your MHSA project proposal to LACDMH, pass through their 2 Level approval/feedback process and get approved.
   
   Note: this can be done without a product decision, #1, and a real budget and schedule, #3, however, you will need to submit updates to your proposal; and keep in mind that if your project budget amount changes up or down you must follow the change process for this and there are some limits as I recall, can't put my finger on it anywhere right now.
   
5. negotiate and sign your CPTNP contract with LACDMH (this cannot be done without an approved project, #4, as the project docs are attachments) ; this is the same as #B) mentioned above.
   
6. Now you can begin "MHSA project" work and spending, and request reimbursement (plus up to 20% of the project budget as start-up money). i.e. now you can sign the EHR-S vendor contract if your MHSA project is to include these up front costs.

NOTE: until all steps #2, thru #5 are completed, you cannot begin work or spending on anything you expect to be reimbursed for!