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Board pauses decision after hours of testimony on suicide-prevention contract; staff favored OCAPICA for Medi‑Cal billing
Summary
After more than an hour of testimony from survivors, clinicians and nonprofit leaders, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to continue consideration of a contested $1.65 million post‑suicide‑prevention contract to June 24 so staff can return with certification, budget and split‑contract options. The Health Care Agency had recommended awarding the contract to the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance Inc. (OCAPICA) because the bidder scored higher on Medi‑Cal billing readiness; incumbent Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services and dozens of supporters urged continuity of care.
Orange County supervisors on May 20 paused a contentious decision over who will provide the county’s suicide postvention and self‑harm reduction services, sending the matter back to staff after hours of personal testimony.
The Health Care Agency had recommended awarding the roughly $1.65 million Mental Health Services Act contract to the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance Inc. (OCAPICA), citing procurement panel scores that emphasized the winning bidder’s readiness to obtain Medi‑Cal certification and bill Medi‑Cal for services under the Behavioral Health Services Act transition. County staff told the board that a provider able to bill Medi‑Cal would reduce the county’s net costs and could generate roughly $1.8 million in reimbursable revenue over a year, an estimate staff said depends on productivity and certification timelines.
The recommendation provoked sustained public comment: more than 40 speakers had signed up and dozens of people — survivors, family members, mental‑health clinicians and community partners — urged supervisors to keep the incumbent, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, in the county’s contract roster. Speakers told personal stories of losing loved ones to suicide and described specialized programs they said Didi Hirsch has provided for years, including survivor‑specific group therapy, bereavement counseling and postvention services tied to schools and hospitals.
"Didi Hirsch saved my life," said multiple callers and clinicians during the public comment period, and several presenters warned that switching providers mid‑program could disrupt ongoing therapy and harm clients who are already enrolled in multi‑week interventions. Didi Hirsch leaders and long‑time subcontractors described decades of specialized postvention work and argued the program’s institutional knowledge is not easily replicated.
County behavioral‑health staff acknowledged Didi Hirsch’s clinical expertise but said the RFP interview scoring focused on the new billing and certification requirements imposed as the state transitions programs into the Behavioral Health Services Act effective July 1, 2026. "This happened through a fair process," Behavioral Health Director Ian Kemmer told the board, adding that OCAPICA scored higher on the procurement panel’s interview portion because it provided clearer plans for Medi‑Cal certification and billing in Orange County. Kemmer said Didi Hirsch can pursue local Medi‑Cal site certification but is not certified for Orange County billing at present.
Supervisors pressed staff on timeline and fiscal impacts. Procurement staff explained the county’s certification process (review of policies, site visits and a state submission) and estimated 3‑ to 6‑month timing depending on back‑and‑forth requirements. Supervisors also asked staff to model the financial effect of splitting the contract between two providers (to preserve Didi Hirsch’s programs while bringing OCAPICA online) and to identify what county services might need to be reduced if Medi‑Cal revenue is not available.
Given the outstanding questions, the board voted to continue the item to the June 24 meeting and asked staff to return with: a detailed budget and revenue forecast (including private insurance and Medi‑Cal projections), an analysis of the cost and programmatic impact of operating two sites versus one, and a certification timeline that clarifies retroactive billing limits. The board’s chair concluded, "Seeing none, motion carries," and the matter was postponed for further staff follow‑up.
What’s next: Staff will present financial scenarios and certification timelines when the board reconvenes the item on June 24. The board asked that public comment be allowed again if the item is re‑noticed.
Sources: County staff presentation and answers to supervisors’ questions; public testimony from Didi Hirsch and OCAPICA leaders and multiple survivors and clinicians during the May 20 Board of Supervisors meeting.
