Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Office of the Mayor to modify and extend a contract with Physicians CareConnection to operate StepOne for a Healthy Pregnancy, the community’s prenatal information and referral line. The additional funding of $75,000.00 is part of the Ohio Department of Medicaid grant funding. Ordinance 0860-2018 was passed on April 9, 2018 for a contract in the amount of $430,078.00. Ordinance 1031-2019 was passed on April 5, 2019 to add $125,000.00 and extend the contract through December 31, 2019.
Step One is a referral service to connect pregnant women with prenatal care and other resources. Pregnant women call an intake number to begin to learn about the services that are available to them during pregnancy. But, as awareness of StepOne has increased, its call volume has, too. StepOne assists 3,400 unique individuals each year, while answering over 5,000 phone calls. Additional funds are needed to increase staff capacity and reduce wait times.
Emergency action is requested in order to ensure that prenatal care and referrals can continue without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation authorizes an expenditure of $75,000 from Ohio Department of Medicaid Grant G401802 and a transfer of $75,000.00 within the grant G401802 Department 5001 for the contract expenditure.
Title
To authorize the Office of the Mayor to modify and extend a contract with Physician’s CareConnection to provide prenatal care and other resources through StepOne; to authorize the transfer within Grant G401802 for this contract; to authorize the expenditure of $75,000.00 from the City’s General Government Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($75,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to transfer $75,000.00 within Grant G401802 for the expenditure of this contract modification; and
WHEREAS The Ohio Department of Medicaid has designated the Office of the Mayor as a primary grantee agency and fund administrator for the Enhanced Maternal Health Program; and
WHEREAS many woman experience barriers to essential health knowledge and access to services they need to make a safe and responsible life-planning decisions that are critical to individual and family well-being; and
WHEREAS CelebrateOne in partnership with Physicians Care Connection are committed to provide resources to pregnant women for prenatal care and other resources in our community; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of the Mayor in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the office to modify and extend a contract with Physician’s CareConnection to connect pregnant women with prenatal care and other resources , 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 transfer of $75,000 within the Grant G401802, Fund 2220 is hereby authorized according to the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Office of the Mayor is hereby authorized to modify and extend a contract with Physician’s Care Connection for StepOne referral service.
SECTION 3. That, to pay the costs of said contract, the expenditure of $75,000.00 is hereby authorized from the General Government Grants Fund, Fund No. 2220, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this modification is in compliance with Section 329 of the Columbus City Code.
SECTION 5. 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 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer within from the Health Department 5001 Grant G401802 from object code 01 to object code 03 for the contract modification with Physician's CareConnection.
SECTION 7. 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.