Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) refer patients to John Muir Behavioral Health Center when CCRMC inpatient psychiatric units become full. John Muir Behavioral Health Center has been providing inpatient psychiatric treatment services under this contract since May 2000.
On October 17, 2017, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #24-794-8(17) with John Muir Behavioral Health Center, in an amount not to exceed $1,550,000 for the provision of inpatient psychiatric treatment services including diagnostic and therapeutic services and mental health treatment for the period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.
On May 8, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #24-794-8(18) with John Muir Behavioral Health Center in an amount not to exceed $1,550,000 for the provision of inpatient psychiatric treatment services including diagnostic and therapeutic services and mental health treatment for the period from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019.
On April 19, 2019, the Board of Supervisors approved Amendment Agreement #24-794-8(21) to increase the payment limit from $1,550,000 to a new payment limit of $3,020,781 with no change in the term. On June 18, 2019, the Board of Supervisors approved Amendment Agreement #24-794-8(23) to increase the payment limit from $3,020,781 to a new payment limit of $3,270,781 with no change in the term.
On June 11 2019, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #24-794-8(22) with John Muir Behavioral Health Center in an amount not to exceed $3,020,781 for inpatient psychiatric services for the period July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. On April 28, 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved Amendment Agreement #24-794-8(25) to increase the payment limit from $3,020,781 to a new payment limit of $4,132,549 with no change in the term.
Due to administrative oversight and staff turnover, several claims during fiscal years 2017-18 and 2019-20 were not received or paid by the County and the contracts do not have sufficient funds to pay the demands. Therefore, the County has determined that John Muir Behavioral Health Center is entitled to payment for the reasonable value of their services under the equitable relief theory of quantum meruit. That theory provides that where a person has been asked to provide services without a valid contract, and the provider does so to the benefit of the recipient, the provider is entitled to recover the reasonable value of those services.
John Muir Behavioral Health Center will not be paid for psychiatric treatment services rendered in good faith.