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Tenders are invited for Feasibility Assessment for Mental Health Agency Licensure and Billing GOALS The goal of this engagement is to understand the financial, operational, and regulatory implications of IRC becoming a mental health agency capable of billing for behavioral health services. A feasibility assessment is required to provide leadership with an evidence-based analysis of: Regulatory feasibility: High-level licensure pathways, Medicaid and other payer participation requirements, and compliance considerations Financial viability: Order-of-magnitude start-up and ongoing costs, revenue potential, breakeven considerations, and financial risk Operational readiness: Implications for systems (IT, billing, compliance), staffing models, clinical oversight, and governance Risk exposure: Organizational, clinical, compliance, financial, and reputational risks associated with billable care Strategic options: Comparison of potential approaches, including pilot vs. scale, partnership vs. standalone models, and telehealth-enabled strategies Implementation timeline: Milestones from agency formation to first billable service Client population viability: Demand, service gaps, and eligibility considerations for IRCs target population (for purposes of this assessment, we are looking at people from immigrant and refugee backgrounds Scope of Work and Tasks The consultant will perform, at minimum, the following tasks: Discovery and Organizational Context o Review of IRCs mission, service model, current organizational structure, and relevant internal capabilities o Conduct interviews with key stakeholders to understand strategic objectives, constraints, and risk tolerance Regulatory Feasibility Analysis o Summarize federal requirements applicable to licensed mental health agencies, including high-level HIPAA considerations o Conduct state-specific regulatory feasibility analyses for Georgia, California, Idaho, and Arizona, including: Agency licensure pathways Medicaid enrollment and payer participation considerations Core compliance obligations and oversight requirements o Identify major regulatory risks, dependencies, and barriers to entry Financial Viability Assessment o Develop high-level estimates of start-up and ongoing costs associated with licensure and billable care (e.g., staffing, compliance, systems, oversight) o Provide indicative reimbursement ranges by payer type (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, commercial insurance), inclusive of interpretation services where applicable o Assess time-to-first-billable-service considerations and breakeven dynamics o Identify key financial assumptions, sensitivities, and areas of uncertainty relevant to leadership decision-making Market and Population Considerations o Assess the potential client pool given IRCs focus on refugees and immigrants, including language access needs o Identify known gaps in behavioral health services for this population and relevant eligibility considerations Operational Readiness and Governance Implications o Assess implications for systems (billing, compliance, data, IT), staffing models, clinical supervision, and quality assurance o Identify governance, oversight, and accountability considerations associated with clinical service delivery o Evaluate organizational readiness and capacity gaps Organizational Risk Assessment o Identify material organizational, clinical, compliance, financial, and reputational risks associated with becoming a billable mental health provider o Highlight risk mitigation considerations and residual risk exposure Strategic Options Analysis o Evaluate and compare potential pathways, including: Limited pilot in one or more states Multi-state telehealth-enabled model Partnership or subcontracting with existing licensed providers Standalone licensure model o For each option, assess relative feasibility, scalability, risk, and organizational burden Recommendations and Decision Support o Synthesize findings into a clear, evidence-based recommendation regarding whether IRC should proceed with further exploration of licensure o Clearly articulate conditions under which proceeding may or may not be advisable IV. Deliverables Comprehensive Feasibility Report - A written report addressing all scope areas, including supporting analysis, assumptions, and findings. Executive Summary - A concise, leadership-level summary suitable for executive and board review. Go / No-Go Recommendation Memo - A focused, decision-oriented memo outlining the recommended path forward, with clear rationale across regulatory, financial, operational, and risk dimensions. Tender Link : https://www.rescue.org/procurement-policies-and-bid-opportunities
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