Explanation
BACKGROUND: In ordinance number 1822-2018 approved by City Council on October 22, 2018, Columbus Public Health was awarded a grant from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners to continue a partnership with Equitas Health for a harm reduction program, called Safe Point. The funds allowed a modification to the existing contract with Equitas Health to continue to provide harm reduction services. Ordinance number 1300-2017, approved by City Council on June 5, 2017, authorized the Board of Health to enter into a contract with Equitas Health, in the amount of $50,000.00 for a period through March 31, 2018. Ordinance 0680-2018, approved by City Council on March 26, 2018, modified this ordinance to increase and extend the original contract in the amount of $12,500.00 and through June 30, 2018. Ordinance 1666-2018, approved by City Council July 7, 2018, modified the contract in the amount of $125,000.00 and extended the contract through 12/31/2018. Ordinance 3109-2018, approved by City Council on November 19, 2018 modified by increasing, extending, and revising the Scope of Services of the contract in the amount of $100,000.00, for a time period ending December 31, 2019. Ordinance 0220-2019, approved by City Council on February 25, 2019 modified by increasing the contract in the amount of $350,000.00. Ordinance 2873-2019, approved by City Council on November 18, 2019 extended the term through December 31, 2020. Ordinance 0749-2020, approved by City Council on May 18, 2020 increased the contract by $242,000.00, revised the Scope of Services and extended the contract with Equitas Health through March 31, 2021.
This ordinance is needed to modify by increasing the contract in the amount of $175,000.00 with Equitas Health for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,054,500.00, through March 31, 2021. This modification is needed to continue the harm reduction program to opiate users ($175,000.00).
Harm reduction services provided by Equitas Health allow clients who are at high-risk of accidental overdose death to access the lifesaving drug, Naloxone, and receive risk reduction counseling, referrals to Alcohol & Drug treatment, and overdose prevention education. In 2019, Safe Point provided services to 3,233 individual clients and had a total of 9,001 visits. Clients who participate in the Safe Point program are provided access to many types of care that address both their active substance use disorder, as well as other social determinants of health. Throughout 2019, Safe Point has provided 1,469 referrals for Alcohol and Drug Treatment, 240 linkages to medical care, provided overdose prevention education to 2,254 clients, and 171 referrals for behavioral or mental healthcare services.
Emergency action is requested for this contract modification in order to ensure Columbus has a harm reduction program to continue to save lives.
FISCAL IMPACT: The funds ($175,000.00) needed to modify this contract with Equitas Health are budgeted within the Health Department Special Revenue Fund.
Title
To authorize the Board of Health to modify, by increasing, an existing contract with Equitas Health to continue to provide a harm reduction program, called Safe Point, through March 31, 2021; to authorize the expenditure of $175,000.00 from the Health Special Revenue Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($175,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to modify, by increasing, contract PO090908 with Equitas Health through March 31, 2021; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is being submitted as an emergency measure so that timely services can proceed without interruption; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to modify the contract with Equitas Health, PO090908, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; Now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized to modify, by increasing, contract PO090908 with Equitas Health by $175,000.00, through March 31, 2021, for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,054,500.00.
SECTION 2. That to pay the cost of said contract modification; the expenditure of $175,000.00 is hereby authorized from the Health Special Revenue Fund, Fund No. 2250, Division No. 5001, Object Class 03, according to the ordinance attachment.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.