Shasta County’s Health and Human Services Agency told the Board of Supervisors on Oct. 27 that it plans to negotiate with the California Mental Health Services Authority to take over administration of the regional Drug-Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System from Partnership Health Plan of California.
The HHSA staff report says Partnership Health Plan notified the agency in February that it would terminate its contractual agreement in December 2026. The county has participated in the regional system since 2020.
The system coordinates substance-use-disorder treatment for eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The report says covered services may include outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment, residential treatment, withdrawal management, medication-assisted treatment and recovery supports, depending on a client’s needs and eligibility.
Partnership Health Plan has provided administrative oversight and support, including provider monitoring, claims processing, audit support and quality-of-care coordination, according to the report. HHSA said the proposed transition is intended to preserve the administrative infrastructure supporting covered treatment services and establish responsibilities, performance expectations and reporting requirements under a new arrangement.
The board was asked only to receive the presentation; no vote was required. The staff report also says the presentation would have no additional General Fund impact. It does not identify an implementation date, transition safeguards, provider-notification plan or contingency if negotiations with CalMHSA do not result in an agreement.
