TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all necessary documents, between the City of Long Beach and the State Department of Health Services for funding the provision of HIV/AIDS preventive health services for an amount not to exceed $4,219,218 for a period of three years, to be appropriated on an annual basis in the Health Fund (SR 130) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HE). (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
For the past 25 years, the State Department of Health Services (State) has contracted with the City to provide HIV/AIDS surveillance and clinical services, including care, testing, counseling, education, and outreach activities. The State provides funding for AIDS Surveillance and HIV Prevention, which entails HIV and Hepatitis C counseling, testing and HIV Care. The City has received additional, one time funding, in the amount of $64,635 for this fiscal year. These funds have been designated for HIV and Hepatitis C testing with and without counseling by the State. The annual breakdown is designated as follows:
The HIV Care Program (HCP) formally known, in part, as the HIV Early Intervention Program (EIP) was established to provide quality of life enhancement to those infected with and affected by HIV, and to prevent further transmission and acquisition of the virus to those persons at risk. The HCP provides comprehensive, ongoing outpatient, ambulatory medical care and those services necessary to support access to and maintenance in medical care. Those services which support access to and maintenance in medical care include treatment adherence, health education/risk reduction, case management and other services which assist HIV infected individuals with overcoming barriers and assist them with linkages to and transition into care. These new funds will increase our client caseload by 100 unduplicated clients per year.
The Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) provides services targeted to HIV infected persons of color and must be planned and delivered in coordination with local HIV prevention outreach services to link and transition newly diagnosed HIV infected patients into care and treatment. The MAI also assists those HIV infected individuals who fall out of care to overcome barriers and return to care, as well as, bring the number of individuals who have been newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS into medical care. Funds will also provide for enhanced partner counseling and referral services.
HIV Prevention Program (HPP) provides HIV prevention services that include HIV testing with and without counseling and Hepatitis C testing. Additionally, this program provides educational and testing activities for minority, high-risk youth, women and men. Partner services will be provided for those patients with HIV to test, counsel, refer and link partners to services. These funds will also be used to purchase additional rapid test kits, and pay laboratory costs for any confirmatory HIV and HCV antibody tests needed. With these funds we plan to provide an additional 350 HIV tests, with or without counseling services as needed.
HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program yields epidemiological data useful for policy and program development. This data is particularly effective when appropriately analyzed and interpreted, combined with other relevant data, and widely disseminated. Local and state planning/work groups rely and utilize the data for needed assessments and plans of action. For example, the state uses the data to assess the state’s prevention needs and to develop a statewide HIV prevention plan. Also, AIDS case data serves as the basis for allocating federal funds to California under Title II of the Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act and for the state’s allocation of these funds to local consortia. The increased funding will enhance our ability to track and compile HIV/AIDS case data.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Trang on November 11, 2010 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on November 12, 2010.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
Services have been provided under all of the programs related to the agreement since July 1, 2010 but the City will be unable to recover any of the related costs until the agreement is approved. Implementation of this contract was not possible back in July 2010, due to delays at the State level.
FISCAL IMPACT
The State Department of Health Services will provide funding in the amount of $4,219,218 to provide HIV/AIDS preventive health services for three years, July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013. Sufficient funds are currently budgeted for FY 2011 in the Health Fund (SR 130) and in the Department of Health and Human Services (HE). Appropriations for FY 2012 and 2013 will be handled as part of each year’s annual budget process. There is no City match of funds required, no impact to the General Fund and no net impact to jobs associated with this action.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
RONALD R. ARIAS
DIRECTOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER