DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jennifer Herriott, Assistant Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing an agreement with Bexar County Hospital District, d/b/a University Health for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s Project Worth Teen Health program for a term ending September 30, 2021.
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance will authorize an agreement with Bexar County Hospital District, d/b/a University Health (UH) for adolescent health services to provide behavioral and mental health counseling for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, funded by the Medicaid 1115 Waiver Program, in an amount not to exceed $112,500.00 for a term ending September 30, 2021 with renewal options for up to an additional two and a half years for a total amount not to exceed $525,000.00 inclusive of the renewals.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On January 31, 2013, City Council authorized the submission of six project proposals by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) through the Regional Healthcare Partnership Anchor entity, University Health System for consideration and funding in the amount of $43,392,942.00 through the new Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) arm of the “Texas Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Program” or “Transformation Waiver” (1115 Waiver Program). Metro Health carefully selected projects in the following areas: diabetes prevention, children’s oral health services, HIV and Syphilis prevention, breastfeeding promotion, teen pregnancy prevention and neighborhood health promotion. All six project proposals were in alignment with Metro Health’s strategic plan and many community goals set forth by SA2020 and had the overall goal of improving health outcomes. The initial demonstration period came to an end on September 30, 2016. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved an initial 15 month extension period and an additional 21 month renewal of the program that extended the term of the 1115 Waiver Program through September 30, 2019. Metro Health will continue to earn incentive payments through the 1115 Waiver Program from October 2019 - September 2021 and has additional 1115 Waiver Program funds to support these projects through calendar year 2025.
In 2016, Metro Health reported 2,007 teen births. Of those 406 were repeat teen births. San Antonio’s birth rate for females ages 15-19 was 30.2 per 1,000 and was 49% higher than the national rate. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, the 2016 cost of teen childbearing in San Antonio was $45.4 million in child welfare, healthcare, lost revenue and incarceration. In Texas, one of the biggest risk factors for future teen pregnancy is a prior teen pregnancy.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS:
The current contract with Bexar County Hospital District, d/b/a University Health (UH), including all extensions, expired on December 31, 2020. The Finance Department Purchasing Division, on behalf of Metro Health released a Request for Proposal (RFP) on October 26, 2020 seeking proposals for Adolescent Behavioral Health Counseling.
A pre-submittal conference was held on November 6, 2020, to allow for vendor questions and clarification to the RFP. Five (5) proposals were received by the December 16, 2020 deadline. One (1) of the proposals were deemed non-responsive. The Evaluation Committee included representatives from the Health Department.
The evaluation of each proposal response was based on a total of 100 points; Twenty Five (25) points allotted for experience, background and qualifications; Twenty five (25) points allotted for proposed plans; Twenty Five (25) points were allotted for Price; Twenty (20) points were allotted for Small Business Economic Development Advocacy Program (SBEDA) made up of Ten (10) points for SBE Prime Contract Program and Ten (10) points for M/WBE Prime Contract Program; and five (5) points allotted for the Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program.
The Goal Setting Committee applied the Small and Minority/ Women-Owned Business Enterprise Prime Contract (SBEDA) Program with ten (10) SBE Prime Contract Program evaluation preference points awarded to a vendor if they are certified as SBE located within the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area and ten (10) M/WBE Prime Contract Program evaluation preference points awarded to a vendor if they are certified as M/WBE located within the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area. However, Bexar County Hospital District, d/b/a University Health was not eligible to receive any preference points.
The Local Preference Program was not applied to this evaluation process.
The Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program was applied in the evaluation of responses received for this contract. Points were applied to one Firm that met the Veteran-Owned Small Business Preference Program requirement.
A post-solicitation briefing to the Audit and Accountability Committee was held on April 20, 2021.
ISSUE:
Metro Health is requesting City Council authorization of an agreement with UH for adolescent health services to provide behavioral and mental health counseling to teen parents. In the event COVID-19 dictates, UH will provide tele-counseling services via HIPPA approved video conferencing and phone-based communication platforms. Parental/guardian consent will be required for teenagers ages 18 and younger to receive services.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this contract not be authorized, Metro Health will be unable to move forward with plans for improving upon its adolescent health services project for the prevention of teen pregnancy in San Antonio and will be unable to meet deliverables set forth in the Medicaid 1115 Waiver Program project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes an agreement with Bexar County Hospital District, d/b/a University Health to provide behavioral mental health counseling for teens for a term ending September 30, 2021 for an amount of up to $112,500.00 and includes renewal options for up to an additional two and a half years for a total amount not to exceed $525,000.00 inclusive of the renewals. Funding for the agreement with University Health will be provided through the Medicaid 1115 Waiver fund. There will be no impact to the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends City Council authorize the agreement with UH to support Metro Health’s teen pregnancy prevention efforts funded by the Medicaid 1115 Waiver Program.
As this contract is procured by means of Request for Proposals, the Contract Disclosure Form is attached.