DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger MPH, PhD
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Authorization of an Agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for the Oral Health Program
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes a dental services agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry (UTHSCSA School of Dentistry) for $168,852.00 to provide dental treatment services for pediatric dental patients referred by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) to the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry for a term beginning September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On an annual basis, the Metro Health Oral Health Program provides diagnostic and preventive care to more than 22,000 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 in receiving needed treatment and to connect families to a source of ongoing care in the community.
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. These children are identified through outreach programs and have extensive dental needs beyond the scope of services offered by Metro Health.
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 UTHSCSA School of Dentistry will ensure pediatric patients identified through the program, which are either uninsured or underinsured, have access to critical dental health services. This contract will cover the provision of dental health services up to $168,852.00 for patients referred by Metro Health to the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this agreement 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 School of Dentistry 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:
This ordinance authorizes a dental services agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry (UTHSCSA School of Dentistry) for a period beginning September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018 in an amount up to $168,852.00. Funding for this agreement is available through the FY2018 Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Title V Child Dental Health Services grant. There is no impact to the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an ordinance authorizing an agreement with the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry in an amount up to $168,852.00 to provide specialty dental services for pediatric patients with extensive dental health issues who are referred by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s Oral Health Program.