Title
Ratify an Agreement between the California Department of Public Health and Natividad Medical Center (NMC) which was signed by the Deputy Purchasing Agent for NMC on October 15, 2014 to provide program enrollment services to uninsured and underinsured individuals living with HIV/AIDS through the NIDO Clinic at Natividad Medical Center, with a retroactive term starting on July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016, at no cost to the County.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the Board of Supervisors:
Ratify an Agreement between the California Department of Public Health and Natividad Medical Center (NMC) which was signed by the Deputy Purchasing Agent for NMC on October 15, 2014 to provide program enrollment services to uninsured and underinsured individuals living with HIV/AIDS through the NIDO Clinic at Natividad Medical Center, with a retroactive term starting on July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016, at no cost to the County.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
California Health and Safety Code 131019 designates the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Center for Infectious Diseases, Office of AIDS (OA) as the lead agency within the state responsible for coordinating state programs, services and activities related to HIV and AIDS.
The California AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) was established in 1987 to help ensure that HIV-positive uninsured and underinsured individuals have access to medication.
The average monthly cost of HIV/AIDS medication is $2,500. Many insurance plans have categorized HIV meds as specialty or top-tier drugs. This increases patient's cost, making treatment unaffordable. The ADAP Program provides no-or low-cost prescription coverage to low-income individuals.
NIDO Clinic is one of two certified enrollment sites in Monterey County that currently serve over 250 clients. In 2013, NIDO Clinic enrolled over 100 clients in ADAP. NIDO Clinic has saved many patients the effort and confusion of going to another agency in order to receive their medications. In order to successfully treat HIV disease, we need to ensure patients stay on their medication. Any disruption can lead to serious consequences. NIDO Clinic would like to continue providing this needed service to the community, at no cost to the county.
The intent of both the State and NMC was to have this Agreement in place on or before July 1, 2013 because the previous Agreement was set to expire on June 30, 2013. The NIDO Clinic Heath Educator had inquired with the State back in April 2013 regarding the new Agreement but was informed by the State that they were in the process of revising the current Agreement and could not provide an estimated date to when this would be available to NMC. The State first made the new Agreement available to NMC in January of 2014 but since that time there continued to be additional changes made and NMC didn't have a final Agreement until September 2014. Therefore this Agreement has a retroactive start date of July 1, 2013.
The deadline to return the signed Agreement to the State was on October 20, 2014. The final Agreement was submitted too late to obtain board approval before the October 20, 2014 deadline and therefore the Deputy Purchasing Agent at NMC signed the Agreement to ensure that NMC's NIDO Clinic would make the deadline in order to continue to receive these much needed services. After the Deputy Purchasing Agent signed the Agreement on October 15, 2014 it was sent to the State on time for final signature and execution. NMC received the executed Agreement document back from the State on October 30, 2014 and is now requesting that the Agreement be ratified by the Board of Supervisors.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed and approved this Agreement as to legal form and risk provisions. Because there are no costs associated with this Agreement it was not presented to the NMC Finance Committee. The Agreement was scheduled for review at the October 3, 2014 Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting but that meeting was cancelled and therefore approval by the BOT was not obtained prior to execution.
FINANCING:
There is no cost associated with this Agreement as the program is funded under Title II of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act of 1990.
Prepared by: Esther Benitez, Health Education Assistant NIDO Clinic, 783-2451
Approved by: Dr. Kelly O'Keefe, Interim Chief Executive Officer, 783-2553
Attachments: Agreement
Attachments on file with the Clerk to the Boards Office