DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Vincent R. Nathan, PhD, MPH
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City- Wide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing an Agreement with the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance will authorize an agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry in an amount of $75,000 for dental treatment services for pediatric dental patients referred by Metro Health to the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry for an initial term beginning February 1, 2017 and ending on January 31, 2020.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On an annual basis, the Metro Health Dental Program provides diagnostic and preventive care to more than 20,000 children living in poverty by providing services in non-traditional settings, such as 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 sources of ongoing care I the community. Approximately 30% of children enrolled in the City’s Head Start program are not covered through Texas Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP). During the 2015-2016 school year more than 8,000 children were identified with untreated decay. Historically, Metro Health has contracted with the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry as a cost-effective means of providing access to high quality dental care for children throughout the community who are uninsured or underinsured identified through City outreach programs that have extensive dental needs beyond the scope of services offered by Metro Health.
ISSUE:
This Ordinance will authorize an agreement with the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry to provide $75,000 for dental treatment services for pediatric dental patients referred by Metro Health to the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this agreement is not authorized, Metro Health would be unable to provide funding to the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry to provide additional dental treatment services for those pediatric dental patients that are in most urgent need of care and/or requiring extensive dental treatment beyond the scope of services offered by Metro Health. Metro Health will need to identify alternative mechanisms to provide patient care and program coordination services for the Dental Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The UTHSCSA School of Dentistry contract will allow Metro Health to provide compensation in the amount of $75,000. This agreement with the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry will be paid on a fee-for-service basis in an amount up to $75,000. Funding for this contract is available through Metro Health’s Head Start grant funds. There is no impact on the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an Ordinance authorizing an agreement with the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry for specialty dental services.