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Network Office

Background  

In the last dozen years there have been a number of significant changes to the delivery of behavioral health care services, beginning locally with the merger of mental health (MH) and alcohol and other drug (AOD) services and continuing with Medi-Cal consolidation, Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) expansion and the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). These changes have all contributed to a growth in the number of contracts; resulting in a total contract budget of over $225,000,000. This level of contracting reflects BHCS’ growth into a large and complex service delivery system.

In 2007, BHCS began a review of its contracting activities. The review was originally conceived to address the need for more timely and coordinated interactions with contracted providers. Planning revealed the need to restructure contracting functions in order to enhance efficiency and increase organizational accountability with a centralized Network Office responsible for contract management program and finance components. The implementation of the Network Office includes a blueprint for aligning contract management with other oversight functions such as, quality assurance, compliance, clinical support, data analysis and contract management under the direction of BHCS’s System of Care (SOC) Directors.

Goals  

The goals of the Network Office are to:

  • Be program-driven: providing support to operational staff in their program design and oversight responsibilities;
  • Consolidate and unify contracting functions, integrating program and fiscal staff;
  • Be timely, efficient and responsive to the needs of consumers and providers;
  • Use data to monitor and evaluate performance;
  • Value transparent, responsive communication among staff;
  • Promote consumer choice of provider and services; and
  • Have the flexibility to meet immediate and long-term needs.

Responsibilities  

In full implementation, the Network Office will be responsible for the following procesess and products:
  • Procurement of services;
  • Contract development, negotiations and renewal
    • Board letters;
  • Fiscal Management:
    • Invoices
    • Tracking funds at reporting unit (RU) and purchase order (PO) level
    • Cost reports
    • Community based organization (CBO) budget modification and tracking;
  • Development of Level III contracts;
  • Certification;
  • Credentialing of Level III individual providers; and
  • Contract monitoring.

Network Office Team  

Fiona Branagh, Director Lani Pallotta, Fiscal Specialist Supervisor, Mental Health
Wendi Wright, Assistant Director Sona Basra, Fiscal Liaison
Alexandra Arroyo, Program Liaison Wilbur Kelly, Fiscal Liaison
Shannon Banks, Program Liaison Paula Snyder, Fiscal Liaison
Michael Kessler, Program Liaison Jian Wang, Fiscal Liaison
Gilda Mansour, Program Liaison Karen Wong, Fiscal Liaison
Kelly Robinson, Program Liaison Steve Wong, Fiscal Liaison
Mary Ann Steedman, Program Liaison Fred Zhang, Fiscal Liaison
Nermina Terovic, Program Liaison Margaret Tolbert, Adminitrative Support Manager
Laurie Woods, Fiscal Specialist Supervisor, Alcohol and Drug Rebeca DaSilva, Administrative Assistant
Barbara Cummings, Fiscal Liaison Mary Goldsby, Secretary
Belinda Gunther, Fiscal Liaison Michiko Ronne, Administrative Assistant
Lorna Kata, Accounting Specialist Cathy Warren, Administrative Assistant
Malwinder Mand, Fiscal Liaison  


Please click here to view the Network Office Organizational Chart.