DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger MPH, PhD
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorization to amend an Agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for the Oral Health Program.
SUMMARY:
This ordinance amends a dental services agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry (UTHSCSA School of Dentistry) to increase total compensation by $48,000, for a total amount up to $216,852.00 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 ending 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 receive needed treatment and to connect families to a source of ongoing care in the community.
On June 15, 2018, Metro Health received additional funds from the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to facilitate the provision of dental services to underinsured and uninsured children in need of extensive dental care. 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 efforts as those with extensive dental needs beyond the scope of services offered by Metro Health. An agreement with UTHSCSA School of Dentistry was approved by City Council on October 19, 2017, for an amount up to $168,852.00 through Ordinance Number 2017-10-19-0818. Metro Health intends on providing additional funding in an amount of $48,000.00 to the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry, bringing the total contract amount up to $216,852.00 for the term beginning September 1, 2017 and ending August 31, 2018. The additional funds provided through this amendment will be used to facilitate the provision of direct patient care and dental services to an additional 160 children.
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. Metro Health requests City Council authorize an amendment to the agreement with the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry. The amendment will provide an additional $48,000.00 to the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry to ensure pediatric patients identified through the program, which are either uninsured or underinsured, have access to critical dental health services. This amendment will cover the provision of dental health services up to a total amount of $216,852.00 for patients referred by Metro Health to the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this amendment not be authorized, Metro Health will not be able to refer the additional 160 uninsured and underinsured children 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 children identified through Metro Health’s Oral Health Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The funding requirement for the dental services agreement with the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry provides an additional $48,000.00 bringing the new total amount up to $216,852.00 for a period ending August 31, 2018. Funding for this agreement is available through the amended FY2018 Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Title V Child Dental Health Services grant. There will be no impact to the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an ordinance amending an agreement with the UTHSCSA School of Dentistry to increase total compensation by $48,000.00, for a total amount up to $216,852.00 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.