City of Columbus - File #: 0145-2023

• File #: 0145-2023
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 1/6/2023
• In control: Health & Human Services Committee
• On agenda: 1/30/2023
• Final action: 2/1/2023
• Title: To authorize the Board of Health to enter into a contract with Equitas Health; to authorize the Board of Health to modify the contract solely when portions of previously appropriated and encumbered funds are unused for the Ryan White Part A HIV Care Grant Program for the provision of services allowable under the grant for persons with HIV or AIDS in central Ohio; to authorize the expenditure of $553,255.98 from the Health Department Grants Fund to pay the costs thereof; and to declare an emergency. ($553,255.98)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
2/1/2023	1	CITY CLERK	Attest
1/31/2023	1	MAYOR	Signed
1/30/2023	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
1/30/2023	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass

Explanation

BACKGROUND:

The City of Columbus, Columbus Public Health, receives funding for the Ryan White Part A HIV Care Grant Program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The purpose of this grant is to improve access to quality medical care for persons with HIV or AIDS living in Central Ohio (Franklin, Licking, Delaware, Morrow, Union, Madison, Pickaway, and Fairfield counties). The goal is that each client will achieve viral suppression, which improves their quality of life and reduces the risk of spreading the infection.

In 2020 the RWPA program for the Central Ohio area served 2,397 people living with HIV through programs including outpatient/ambulatory medical care, mental health services, medical case management, early intervention services, housing services, non-medical case management, emergency financial assistance and medical transportation.

This ordinance authorizes the Board of Health to enter into a contract with Equitas Health to provide HIV-related somatic and outpatient/ambulatory medical care, early intervention services, medical and non-medical case management services, medical transportation, mental health services, housing services, emergency financial assistance, and any other service allowable under the grant. The term of the contract is March 1, 2022, through February 28, 2023, with funding based on vendor estimates of annual funding requirements for allowable services. These services were advertised through vendor services RFQ010425 on August 25, 2018 and RFQ013649 on September 24, 2019, according to bidding requirements of the City Code.

Under the terms of the grant, funds must be used during the grant period or they are forfeited and CPH may be subject to penalties related to future grant funding. Previously, CPH has reallocated unused funds from vendors through appropriate contract modifications. These modifications oftentimes required additional legisl...