REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
April 7, 2020
FROM
TRUDY RAYMUNDO, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title v
Grant Award from the United States Department of Health and Human Services for Ending the HIV Epidemic - Primary Care HIV Prevention Supplemental Funding
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept grant award (Award No. 3 H80CS00657-19-01), from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration for the Service Area Competition under the Health Center Program for Ending the HIV Epidemic - Primary Care HIV Prevention supplemental funding, in the amount of $255,743, for the period of March 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021.
2. Designate the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Director of the Department of Public Health to accept any subsequent non-substantive amendments in relation to this grant award, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Director of the Department of Public Health to transmit all non-substantive amendments in relation to this grant award to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Trudy Raymundo, Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The grant award in the amount of $255,743 from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) does not require a match. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2019-20 budget and will be included in the 2020-21 recommended budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
HRSA is providing Ending the HIV Epidemic - Primary Care HIV Prevention (PCHP) supplemental funding to existing health centers to expand HIV outreach and prevention services that decrease the risk of HIV transmission focusing on supporting access to and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). DPH will use the PCHP funds to enhance health center capacity to more seamlessly facilitate timely linkage to treatment for HIV positive patients, and enable health centers to better target new resources for HIV prevention services. In addition to expanding HIV prevention services, funds must be utilized to enhance partnerships with other Ryan White programs to facilitate referrals of individuals in need of HIV prevention services and link individuals testing positive for HIV to treatment.
Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative includes key strategies to leverage the unification of data, HIV care and prevention models, medications, and available laboratory tools. These strategies include diagnosing HIV individuals as early as possible after transmission; treating HIV individuals rapidly and effectively to reach sustained viral suppression; preventing new HIV transmission by using proven interventions, including PrEP programs; and responding quickly to potential HIV outbreaks to get needed prevention and treatment services to people who need them.
DPH operates four Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in San Bernardino County, two in the Desert Region and two in the Valley Region. The PCHP funds will assist in aligning DPH’s FQHCs with the four pillars of Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative as follows: establish a STD walk-in clinic to increase HIV testing and PrEP interventions; hire one full time equivalent of a bilingual Spanish speaking Health Education Specialist I to function as a PrEP navigator, and provide risk reduction and prevention counseling; enhance existing relationship with Ryan White Programs and HIV Prevention Program; train providers and staff on HIV prevention interventions; and purchase Intelichart, a patient engagement platform to enhance patient self-management.
On December 10, 2019, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the application to HRSA for Ending the HIV Epidemic - PCHP supplemental funding, in the amount of $511,486 ($255,743 annually), for the grant period of April 1, 2020 through February 28, 2022.
On February 28, 2020, DPH received the grant award (Award No. 3 H80CS00657-19-01) from HRSA, in the amount of $255,743, for the period of March 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021. This item is being presented at this time, as this is the first available date following the required operational, fiscal, and legal reviews. Approval by the Board at this time will not impact DPH’s PCHP services or activities.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on March 18, 2020; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on March 18, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on March 18, 2020.