TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all necessary documents with the State of California Department of Health Services to enable the City to provide services for Viral Load Testing in an amount not to exceed $540,000 for a three-year period. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Since 1998, the State Department of Health Services (State) has designated the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as a contractor in the Viral Load
Testing program. Under the new proposed three-year agreement, the DHHS Public Health Laboratory will provide up to 1,800 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) blood tests at
$1 00 per test to eligible clients of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) per each contract year. The DHHS will also document and submit the test results to the State Office of AIDS.
Viral load tests measure the amount of HIV-I RNA in patient blood samples and the test results are used to monitor virus progression and medication effectiveness. Viral Load
Testing results allow health care providers to better manage the care of HIV-infected patients. The State's Viral Load Testing program makes testing available to all ADAP and ADAP-eligible clients who would otherwise be unable to afford this service. The submission of test results to the State Office of AIDS allows the State to compile epidemiological data for participating health jurisdictions. The agreement is for a term of three years, from July 1,2005 through June 30,2008 for an
amount not to exceed $540,000. This matter was reviewed by Senior Deputy City Attorney Donna F. Gwin and Budget
Management Officer David Wodynski on June 23,2005.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
[Fiscal Impact]
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
[Respectfully Submitted,]