Merced County Municipal Code Ch. 9.48 Fees for Services

§ 9.48.010. General policies for fees.¶

State law (Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 5717 and 5718) requires all California County Mental Health programs to post a fee schedule. These fees shall be charged in accordance with the patient/clients ability to pay but not in excess of actual cost.

(Ord. 1231, 1987; Ord. 1279, 1988; Ord. 1311, 1989; Ord. 1347, 1990; Ord. 1358, 1991; Ord. 1359, 1991; Ord. 1401, 1992; Ord. 1402, 1992; Ord. 1472, 1993; Ord. 1530, 1995)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 9.48.020. Waiver availability.¶

The county mental health director may waive fees for services when it is determined that such fees would deter the patient/client from receiving services.

(Ord. 1231, 1987; Ord. 1279, 1988; Ord. 1311, 1989; Ord. 1347, 1990; Ord. 1358, 1991; Ord. 1359, 1991; Ord. 1401, 1992; Ord. 1402, 1992; Ord. 1472, 1993; Ord. 1530, 1995)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 9.48.030. Fees.¶

Fees shall be set on a "per unit of time" basis as follows:

Description	Unit Reimbursement	Posted Fee 7/1/22 –– 6/30/23
Case Management, Brokerage	Staff Minute	$3.43
Collateral	Staff Minute	$3.42
Mental Health Services	Staff Minute	$3.42
Medication Support	Staff Minute	$7.92
Crisis Intervention	Staff Minute	$3.72
Crisis Stabilization:	Crisis Stabilization:	Crisis Stabilization:
Emergency Room	Staff Hour	$314.04
Urgent Care	Staff Hour	$314.04
Day Services (Rehabilitative):	Day Services (Rehabilitative):	Day Services (Rehabilitative):
Full Day	Client Full Day	$351.72
Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF)	Client Day	$4,306.87 (Published Charge/Other County)
Administrative Day Rate	Client Full Day	$487.57

Administrative Overhead

The department of mental health has established an administrative overhead rate of 15%. Where appropriate, this administrative overhead rate of 15% will be billed with the board approved rates set forth above, to cover the departmental operating costs of providing such services.

Alcohol and Drug Services	Alcohol and Drug Services	Posted Fee	Posted Fee
Service	Type of Unit of Service (UOS)	SFY 22/23 Non-Perinatal (Regular) Rate Per UOS	SFY 22/23 Perinatal Rate Per UOS
NTP - Methadone Dosing	Daily	$16.20	$17.45
NTP - Individual Counseling (*)	One 10-minute increment	$19.01	$27.21
NTP - Group Counseling(*)	One 10-minute increment	$4.49	$9.09
NTP – Buprenorphine [1]	Daily	$31.32	$42.38
NTP - Buprenorphine-Naloxone Combo Product	Daily	$28.31	$39.37
NTP – Disulfiram [2]	Daily	$11.30	$11.47
NTP – Naloxone [3] (2-pack Nasal Spray)	Dispensed as needed	$144.96	$144.96

Services Provided by Modality (funded by DMC-ODS)	Billing/Unit of Service (minutes, day, hour)	Interim Rate
Encounter Rates	Encounter Rates	Encounter Rates
Outpatient	15-minute increments	$42.05
Intensive Outpatient	15-minute increments	$42.05
Recovery Services	15-minute increments	$30.18
Case Management	15-minute increments	$30.18
Physician Consultation	15-minute increments	$83.20
Daily Rates	Daily Rates	Daily Rates
Level 1-WM	Per Day	$148.30
Level 2-WM	Per Day	N/A
Level 3.2-WM	Per Day	N/A
Level 3.1 - Residential	Per Day	$158.91
Level 3.3 - Residential	Per Day	N/A
Level 3.5 - Residential	Per Day	$128.40
Optional	Optional	Optional
Additional Medication Assisted Treatment	15 minute increments	N/A
Partial Hospitalization	Per Day	N/A

Sliding Fee Scale (individual and group fees): Table 1

Sliding fee scale fees are determined based on gross monthly income.

Table 1

Monthly Income	% to Slide	% to Pay	Intake $82.05	Treatment Planning $82.05	Individual $82.05	Group $30.28	Crisis $71.25	DC Plan/Exit $71.25
$0—999	80	20	$16.41	$16.41	$16.41	$ 6.06	$14.25	$14.25
1,000 - 1,400	60	40	$32.84	$32.84	$32.84	$12.12	$28.52	$28.52
1,401 - 2,000	40	60	$49.26	$49.26	$49.26	$18.18	$42.78	$42.78
2,001 - 2,700	20	80	$65.68	$65.68	$65.68	$24.24	$57.04	$57.04
2,701 +	0	100	$82.05	$82.05	$82.05	$30.28	$71.25	$71.25

Miscellaneous Mental Health Department Fees

Description	Unit Reimbursement	Posted Fee
Short-Term Housing Fee:
Daily Fee	Per Day	$10.00
Monthly Fee	Per Month	150.00
Expert Witness Testimony	Per Encumbered Hour or Partial Hour	330.60
Incompetent to Stand Trial Assessments and Evaluations	Per Encumbered Hour or Partial Hour	330.60
Retrieval and Copy Costs
State Disability	(Rate set per page by DSS)	$14.05—21.60
Workers' Compensation	(per hour)	16.00/$0.10 per page
Subpoena	(per hour)	16.00/$0.10 per page
Paper Record for Attorney	(per hour)	16.00/$0.25 per page
Microfilm for Attorney	(per hour)	16.00/$0.50 per page
Paper Record for Client	(per hour)	16.00/$0.25 per page
Microfilm for Client	(per hour)	16.00/$0.50 per page
Nonsufficient Funds (NSF)	Client payment	As set by county treasurer and BOS

(Ord. 1231, 1987; Ord. 1279, 1988; Ord. 1311, 1989; Ord. 1347, 1990; Ord. 1358, 1991; Ord. 1359, 1991; Ord. 1401, 1992; Ord. 1402, 1992; Ord. 1472, 1993; Ord. 1530, 1995; Ord. 1569 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1599 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1639 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1686 § 1, 2002; Ord. 1714 § 1, 2003; Ord. 1717 § 1, 2003; Ord. 1741 § 1, 2004; Ord. 1768 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1801 § 1, 2007; Ord. 1812 § 1, 2007; Ord. 1836 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1851 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1861 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1868 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1873 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1883 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1884 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1893 § 1, 2012; Ord. 1900 § 1, 2012; Ord. 1907 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1924 § 1, 2014; Ord. 1935 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1945 § 1, 2016; Ord. 1954 § 1, 2017; Ord. 1966 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1967 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1978 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1995 § 1, 2020; Ord. 2007 § 1, 2021; Ord. 2023 § 1, 2022)

Exceptions & meaning →