Explanation
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, to continue a partnership with Columbus Public Health for a harm reduction program, called Safe Point. 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 Countil July 7, 2018, modified the contract in the amount of $125,000.00 and extended the contract through 12/31/2018.
This ordinance is needed for a modification by increasing, extending, and revising the Scope of Services of the contract in the amount of $100,000.00 for a total contract amount not to exceed $287,500.00, for a time period ending December 31, 2019 with Equitas Health. The funds have been provided by Franklin County Board of Commissioners. This modification is needed to continue a harm reduction program to provide Naloxone to opiate users.
Harm reduction services provided by Equitas Health allow clients who are at high-risk of accidental overdose death to access the lifesaving drug, Naloxone. During 2017 Safe Point provided services to 3,139 individual clients. 1,315 lives were known to have been saved from Naloxone that was acquired at the Safe Point program. 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 2017, Safe Point provided 1,518 referrals for Alcohol and Drug Treatment, 1,029 linkages to medical care, and 472 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 needed to modify this contract with Equitas Health are budgeted within the Health Department Grants Fund.
Title
To authorize the Board of Health to modify, by increasing, extending, and revising the Scope of Services of an existing contract with Equitas Health to continue to provide a harm reduction program, called Safe Point, through December 31, 2019; to authorize the expenditure from the Health Department Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to modify, by increasing, extending, and revising the Scope of Services of contract PO090908 with Equitas Health through December 31, 2019; 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, by increasing, extending, and revising the Scope of Services of 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 $100,000.00, extending it through December 31, 2019, and revising the Scope of Services, for a total contract amount not to exceed $287,500.00.
SECTION 2. That to pay the cost of said contract modification; the expenditure of $100,000.00 is hereby authorized from the Health Department Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251, Department of Health, Department No. 50, Division No. 5001 per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
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.