HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03041986 - FC.2 Tb !OARD OF SUPERVISORS �C
FROM: Finance Committee Cwtra
Costa
DATE'. March 4, 1986 Courty
SUBJECT: INSURANCE COSTS OF MENTAL HEALTH, DRUG ADDITION
AND ALCOHOLIC PROGRAM CONTRACTORS
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION•
1. Write letter to the County legislative delegation requesting their
position on legislation for tort reform.
2. Request CSAC to organize a march on Sacramento demonstrating support
for tort reform.
3 . Determine the dollar cost of the increase in insurance costs for
mental health contractors from 1984-1985 to 1985-1986 attributable to
Health Services and augment contracts by the increase.
4. Direct Health Services to make the requirement for Professional
Liability coverage optional in mental health contractors agreements.
5. Direct the County Administrator to take the necessary action to
implement the Committee recommendations.
BACKGROUND
The Committee considered the cost increases reported by the various con-
tractors in the mental health programs. Insurance costs have increased
1000 or more for the majority of the contractors.
The problem is not unique to any one contractor but is more evident, with
the mental health contractors due to the close relationship between the
department and the contractors.
The Committee discussed several options to deal with the problem. The
options included recommendations to the contractors to consider. joint
insurance programs through their state associations, and including the
agencies within the county self-insurance program. For several reasons the
options were not considered viable.
The Committee requested the County Administrator' s staff to work with the
contractors and Health Services to determine the exact increase in cost for
the insurance required by the County from 1984-1985 to 1985-1986 . It was
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: V SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATIO/OFdC INISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEEAPPROVE HER �SIGNATURE s : Su Roberto Sch Supervisor Tom Torlakson
ACTION OF BOARD O March 4, 1986 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDEDX OTHER _
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES'. AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
cc: Clerk of the Board ATTESTED March 4, 1986 _
Health Services PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Social Services SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Susan Cinelli, Bi-Bett
BY DEPUTY
M382/7-83 .
f,urther ' requested that the Health Services portion of the increase be
determined and that a means be found to provide additional compensation to
the contractors for the proportional share of the increased cost.
The problems of increased cost are a result of many factors beyond the
control of the County, Health Services or the contractors. The current
state of the law on tort liability creates a situation where public agen-
cies and contractors providing services for public agencies can be held
liable for large settlements despite the degree of negligence. Legislation
for tort reform is necessary and the Committee directed that letters be
sent to the County legislators on the issue in accordance with the recom-
mendations stated in this report.