Explanation
BACKGROUND: Ordinance 0453-2024 provided funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)’s who provide primary health services not provided at Columbus Public Health. This ordinance amends 0453-2024 to provide an additional $485,000.00 in funding for FQHC’s as follows:
Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, Inc. dba PrimaryOne Health: $235,079.50
Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers: $87,397.00
Lower Lights Christian Health Center, Inc.: $79,249.00
Southeast, Inc.: $58,297.00
The Ohio State University College of Nursing: $16,005.00
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio: $8,972.50
Community Health Centers (CHC) are successful, low-cost options for primary care access in a nation that spends $2 trillion a year on health care. Medical costs for CHC patients are 41% lower compared to patients seen elsewhere such as a hospital emergency room. As a result CHC’s save the health care system between $9.9 billion and $17.6 billion a year.
Why the need for additional goods or services could not be foreseen at the time the contract was initially awarded? To continue to serve additional clients and continue primary health services not provided at Columbus Public Health.
Why it would not be in the city’s best interests to have the additional contract requirements awarded through other procurement processes specified in this chapter? All six FQHC’s in Columbus has a currently serve large caseloads of clients and it would be a disservice and lack of continuity of care for the clients being served under this contract.
Emergency action is requested in order to not delay these needed services for the community.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is provided in the Health Special Revenue Fund and the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund.
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to amend contracts with the following vendors: Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, Inc. (dba PrimaryOne Health), Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers, Lower Lights Christian Health Center, Inc., Southeast, Inc., The Ohio State University College of Nursing, and Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio provided by Ordinance 0453-2024 to provide primary health care and dental services at community-based health centers; to authorize and transfer appropriations within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; to authorize a transfer between funds; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Health Special Revenue Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($485,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus seeks to ensure primary health care and dental services through various community health centers; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend contracts with Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, Inc. (dba PrimaryOne Health), Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers, Lower Lights Christian Health Center, Inc., Southeast, Inc., The Ohio State University College of Nursing and Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio for the management and operations of the community health centers; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Health Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Board of Health to enter into contracts with various community health centers in order to avoid delays in client services, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and 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 contracts with the vendors below for the provision of primary health care and dental services through various community health centers from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, for a total amount not to exceed $485,000.00.
Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, Inc. dba PrimaryOne Health: $235,079.50
Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers: $87,397.00
Lower Lights Christian Health Center, Inc.: $79,249.00
Southeast, Inc.: $58,297.00
The Ohio State University College of Nursing: $16,005.00
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio: $8,972.50
SECTION 2: That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $385,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting code in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3: That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer $385,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to the Health Special Revenue fund, fund 2250, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $385,000.00 within the Health Special Revenue fund, fund 2250, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of up to $485,000 is hereby authorized from the Health Operating Fund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6: 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 7: 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 legislation.
SECTION 8: 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.