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 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 with Equitas Health. Ordinance 0220-2019, approved by City Council on February 25, 2019 modified by increasing the contract in the amount of $350,000.00, for a total contract amount not to exceed $637,500.00.
This ordinance is needed to revise the Scope of Services, and extend the contract term, for a time period ending December 31, 2020 with Equitas Health. This modification is needed to continue the harm reduction program 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, and receive risk reduction counseling, referrals to Alcohol & Drug treatment, and overdose prevention education. Through 3rd quarter of 2019, Safe Point provided services to 3,577 individual clients. 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 1,332 referrals for Alcohol and Drug Treatment, 190 linkages to medical care, provided overdose prevention education to 2,988 clients, and 141 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 Special Revenue Fund.
Title
To authorize the Board of Health to modify an existing contract with Equitas Health by extending the term and revising the Scope of Services to continue to provide a harm reduction program, called Safe Point, through December 31, 2020; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to modify the original contract, PO090908, by extending the term and revising the Scope of Services with Equitas Health to continue a partnership with Columbus Public Health for a harm reduction program, called Safe Point by extending it through December 31, 2020; 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, to ensure services are not interrupted, all 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 the contract by extending the term and revising the Scope of Services with Equitas Health through December 31, 2020.
SECTION 2. 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 3. 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 4. 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.