DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing an Agreement with the University of Texas at San Antonio for implementation an opioid substance use evidence-based practice intervention and provider education.
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes an agreement with the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s (Metro Health) STD/HIV Prevention Program, in an amount not to exceed $90,000.00 for the initial term and a total amount not to exceed $450,000.00 inclusive of renewals. UTSA will provide an opioid substance use evidence-based practice (EBP) intervention and community education to pharmacists and providers for a term beginning January 1, 2021 and ending August 30, 2021, with options to renew for four, one-year terms and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Pathways to Prevention Project grant.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
As the local health district for the City of San Antonio and Bexar County, Metro Health provides HIV/STD testing, treatment and linkage to care services to community members. Opioid substance use and HIV infection have a syndemic relationship. People living with HIV (PLWH) are at risk for opioid-related complications including opioid misuse, addiction, and overdose. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, OSU has continued to increase in Bexar County and contributes to more than 10% of HIV exposures, with 5.6% identified specifically among men who have sex with men (MSM) and people who inject drugs (PWID).
Metro Health, in collaboration with partnering organizations, will offer the Pathways to Prevention Project to the community to prevent and reduce opioid substance use, raise awareness about STDs, HIV, and Viral Hepatitis, and provide linkage to care services to at-risk, racial/ethnic minorities, targeting 13-24 years of age youth, young adults who identify as MSM, high-risk heterosexuals (HRH), commercial sex workers (CSW), people who inject drugs (PWID), and/or transgender (TG).
Metro Health seeks to enter into an agreement with UTSA to provide an opioid substance use evidence-based intervention to participants with tailored health education messages and/or materials that address each participant’s level of risk and prevention needs. UTSA will utilize digital technology (e.g. messaging, social media, websites and dating apps) and traditional marketing (e.g. radio, TV, billboards) to distribute prescription opioid substance use and sexual health prevention education and testing services information. UTSA staff will distribute resources to community members to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for the safe use of prescription opioids. UTSA will also provide education to local pharmacies and providers utilizing the EBP intervention, GenerationRx, to instruct providers on how to educate patients about the safe use of opioid medications.
ISSUE:
Metro Health requests City Council authorize an agreement with UTSA to implement an opioid substance use evidence-based practice intervention to community members and a community education campaign in San Antonio and Bexar County. These are requirements of the Pathways to Prevention Project grant, funded by SAMHSA. UTSA will be fulfilling the obligations of the grant, to provide opioid substance use evidence-based practice intervention and community education to pharmacists and providers.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this agreement is not authorized, San Antonio and Bexar County young adults will not receive the needed opioid substance use evidence-based practice intervention. Additionally, a community education campaign will not be offered to local pharmacists and medical providers. Without the execution of this agreement with UTSA, Metro Health will not be able to complete the requirements put forth by the grantor and Metro Health will be in jeopardy of losing funding provided by the Pathways to Prevention Project grant.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes an agreement with the University of Texas at San Antonio for Metro Health’s STD/HIV Prevention Program. The agreement provides for the provision of services related to the implementation of an opioid substance use evidence-base practice intervention. The term of the agreement is January 1, 2021 to August 30, 2021, with options to renew for four, one-year terms. The agreement is for an amount up to $90,000.00 and a total amount not to exceed $450,000.00 inclusive of the renewals. The agreement will be funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Pathways to Prevention Project grant. There is no impact to General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the ordinance authorizing an agreement with the University of Texas at San Antonio for the implementation of an opioid substance use evidence-based practice intervention and community education to pharmacists and providers for an initial term ending August 30, 2021, with options to renew for four, one-year terms to meet requirements and deliverables of the SAMHSA Pathways to Prevention Project grant.