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 untreated decay that requires extensive dental treatment beyond the scope of services provided by the program. The renewal of the contract with The University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School will ensure pediatric patients identified through the program, who are either uninsured or underinsured, have access to critical dental health services. This contract will cover the provision of dental health services up to $181,561.00 for patients referred by Metro Health to the UTHSCSA Dental School.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this contract not be authorized, Metro Health will no longer be able to refer uninsured and underinsured families with pediatric patients that have extensive untreated decay to the UTHSCSA Dental School for follow up dental health services. The Oral Health program would need to identify other providers in the community that can provide low or no cost dental health treatment for the uninsured.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The contract with the UTHSCSA Dental School will allow for the provision of dental health services in an amount up to $181,561.00 for pediatric patients referred by Metro Health to the Dental School. Funding for this agreement is available through the FY2016 Texas Department of State Health Services Title V Child Dental Health Services grant. There will be no impact to the City’s General Fund budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an Ordinance authorizing the renewal of a contract with the UTHSCSA Dental School to provide specialty dental services for pediatric patients with extensive dental health issues.