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Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents and amendments, including amendments to the amount of the award, with the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health, to accept and expend grant funding in an amount up to $35,000, for transportation services for eligible Ryan White Program clients in Los Angeles County, for the period of November 15, 2020 through February 28, 2023, with the option to renew for one additional three-year period, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the City of Long Beach (City), Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) has provided HIV medical care and support services to curtail the epidemic. This new funding from Los Angeles County (County) will allow the Health Department to provide transportation services for clients accessing Ryan White Program (Program) services with the goal of addressing and eliminating barriers to health care, prevention, and social services. The funding will add transportation access as a service to already existing HIV medical care and support services provided by the Health Department’s HIV Care Coordination Clinic.
Transportation is critical to ensuring people living with HIV (PLWH) have access to ongoing health care and social services. Chronic disease care requires clinician visits, medication access, and visits to other Program services such as oral health care, food assistance programs, and legal services. Transportation limitations are often cited as barriers to whole person care and health care access. Limited health care access can lead to poorer health outcomes, lower viral load suppression rates due to limited access to life-saving HIV medications, and subsequently higher risk of HIV transmission.
This Program ensures that PLWH residing in Long Beach and surrounding areas, who are experiencing financial hardships and economic ...
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