DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing an Agreement with New Season San Antonio Treatment Center
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes an agreement with New Season San Antonio Treatment Center for the provision of services relating to the prevention of tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) for a period beginning October 1, 2018 and ending September 30, 2019, with an option to renew for one year.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Metro Health’s TB Prevention and Control Program (TB Program) provides examination, diagnosis and treatment for individuals suspected or confirmed with active TB disease. The TB Program also provides screening and preventive medicine for those with a known exposure to TB or those from high risk populations. Additional services offered include case management, contact investigation and community intervention with prevention measures in order to reduce the rates and control the spread of TB disease.
Metro Health receives funding from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for Metro Health’s participation in the Tuberculosis Identification and Treatment Project (TB Project) under the Texas Medicaid 1115 Waiver. This project focuses on targeted testing and treatment for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in high risk populations to prevent these cases from evolving into active TB cases. The DSHS TB Project includes increased targeted testing and treatment for high risk populations such as refugees and persons living in congregate settings such as homeless shelters and drug rehabilitation centers. In addition, individuals living with HIV and diabetes are also targeted.
Metro Health’s STD program provides testing, diagnosis and treatment for individuals who test positive for a sexually transmitted disease. The STD program also provides preventive medication to persons with known exposure and those engaging in high risk behaviors. Additionally, the program also offers field testing and treatment, contact investigation/ counseling and case management services for pregnant women.
The STD program receives funding through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to provide education, testing and linkage to care in both clinical and outreach settings. The STD program’s Prevention Team focuses on targeted testing, community mobilization and linkage to care in high risk populations to prevent the spread of STDs and HIV. The efforts of the Prevention Team are continuously enhanced by developing new relationships with external partners and nurturing existing partnerships to maximize their reach in the Bexar County community.
New Season San Antonio Treatment Center (NSSATC) is a leading provider of specialized quality care for opioid drug use management and recovery. NSSATC provides opioid addiction treatment services to include Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), medical examinations and individual, group, and family counseling sessions to individuals living in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. NSSATC will collaborate with Metro Health to facilitate STD testing services, administer and read the Tuberculin Test, and assist with contact investigations relating to TB and STD surveillance at two San Antonio clinic locations.
ISSUE:
Metro Health requests City Council authorize an agreement with New Season San Antonio Treatment Center for the provision of services relating to TB and STD prevention. This agreement will facilitate Metro Health’s aim to stop the spread of communicable diseases within high risk populations through targeted testing and treatment services offered by the TB and STD programs.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this contract is not authorized, Metro Health’s TB and STD programs will not be able to build upon the partnership with New Season San Antonio Treatment Center and provide preventative services to clients battling substance abuse illnesses. Metro Health would also be required to identify other ways to increase targeted testing and treatment in high risk populations such as persons who are homeless, immunocompromised, foreign born, or live in a congregate setting, or suffer from substance abuse or diabetes.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Metro Health is requesting authorization to execute a Memorandum of Agreement with New Season San Antonio Treatment Center for a term beginning October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019. Supported by the DSHS TB Project under the Texas Medicaid 1115 Waiver and the DSHS HIV Prevention Grant, Metro Health will provide supplies for testing services. This agreement will have no impact to the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an ordinance authorizing an agreement with New Season San Antonio Treatment Center for the provision of services relating to the prevention of tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) for a period beginning October 1, 2018 and ending September 30, 2019, with the option to renew for one year.