DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dr. Vincent R. Nathan
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing a Contract Renewal with the UTHSCSA Dental School
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the renewal of a contract with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) Dental School for $181,561.00 for dental treatment services for pediatric dental patients referred by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) to the UTHSCSA Dental School for a term beginning September 1, 2015 and ending August 31, 2016.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On an annual basis, the Metro Health Dental Program provides diagnostic and preventive care to more than 12,000 children living in poverty by providing services in non-traditional settings, such as Head Start, Early Head Start and on campuses of local Title I elementary schools. Through these programs, many children are identified with additional dental treatment needs beyond the scope of Metro Health services. Case management services are provided by Metro Health dental staff to assist participating children to receive needed treatment and to connect families to a source of ongoing care in the community. Approximately 23% of children enrolled in the City's Head Start Program are not covered through Texas Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP).
Historically, Metro Health has contracted with the UTHSCSA Dental School as a cost-effective means of providing access to high quality dental care for children throughout the community who are uninsured or underinsured. These children are identified through City outreach programs that have extensive dental needs beyond the scope of services offered by Metro Health. This contract was most recently authorized through Ordinance number 2014-10-16-0800 on October 16, 2014.
ISSUE:
Often, children serviced through Metro Health's Oral Health program are identified as having significant...
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