Subject:
Title
Funding Agreement with Community Health Centers of Pinellas, Inc. d/b/a Evara Health to support expanded local services and Low-Income Pool Letters of Agreement and Questionnaires with the State of Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration on behalf of Community Health Centers of Pinellas, Inc. d/b/a Evara Health and the Healthcare for the Homeless program.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Funding Agreement with Community Health Centers of Pinellas, Inc. d/b/a Evara Health (Evara) to support expanded local services and approval and execution of the Low-Income Pool (LIP) Letters of Agreement (LOA) and Questionnaires with the State of Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) on behalf of Evara and the Healthcare for the Homeless Program (HCH).(AHCA) on behalf of Evara and the Healthcare for the Homeless Program (HCH).Body
• The Funding Agreement with Evara provides funding in the form of an intergovernmental transfer (IGT) for participation in LIP to continue Evara’s participation in the Pinellas Opioid Task Force and substance abuse prevention activities, provision of expanded healthcare services in the Lealman community, and provision of expanded dental services in Clearwater and south St. Petersburg. The LIP funding supports 25.25 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions in our community.
• The LOA and Questionnaires detail the arrangements for the County to provide the IGTs to AHCA to increase the provision of health services for charity care to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) through the LIP program. Both Evara and HCH are FQHCs eligible for participation in LIP.
• Services provided by HCH through LIP funding expand the current HCH substance use treatment program to engage clients at local hospitals and connect to substance use treatment services.
• Funding has been identified within the Human Services Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Proposed Budget for potential LOAs as follows: Evara - $1,161,736.00 in County support to receive an additional $1,444,806.00 in LIP funding from the State; and HCH - $229,748.00 in County support to receive an additional $285,729.00 in LIP funding from the State. The final LIP payments may vary slightly based upon statewide participation.
• Per Resolution 17-70, the County may initiate IGTs up to the amount of appropriated funds budgeted to Human Services and identified by Human Services as appropriate for LIP and similar programs to expand health services for low-income and charitable care.
• The required IGT for Evara is approximately $234,000.00 more than required in FY26; the HCH IGT is approximately $8,000.00 more.
• Authority for the County Administrator to sign the Funding Agreement, LOA, and Questionnaire is granted pursuant to Resolution 17-70.
• Funding for these agreements is included in the FY27 Proposed Budget of the Human Services Department in the General Fund. Funding is dependent upon adoption of the FY27 Budget.
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Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health.
Summary:
The Funding Agreement and LOAs provide for funding in the form of IGTs for participation in the state LIP to support expanded substance use treatment services in HCH and to support Evara’s participation in the Pinellas Opioid Task Force and substance abuse prevention activities, expanded healthcare services in the Lealman community, and expanded dental services in Clearwater and south St. Petersburg. LIP funding directly supports 25.25 FTE positions with Evara.
In calendar year 2025 (CY25) the HCH LIP funding supported substance use treatment for 192 clients. In FY25, the Evara LIP funding supported 9,997 unique healthcare clients in Lealman and 5,129 unique dental clients in south St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Additionally, Evara distributed 1,542 naloxone kits in FY25.
Background/Explanation:
Pinellas County continues to seek opportunities to assist local hospital and healthcare partners in maximizing revenues while serving our most needy citizens. State funding, known as Medicaid LIP, allows local governments to increase certain Medicaid hospital and other healthcare provider payments by providing the required State Medicaid Assistance Percentage (SMAP) through Intergovernmental Transfers (IGTs). The source of SMAP must be locally generated tax dollars.
Fiscal Impact:
Appropriation in the amount of $1,391,484.00 is consistent with the development of the Human Services FY27 Adopted Budget to support the IGT payments under the two LOAs.
Evara- $1,161,736.00 in county support. (Evara will receive an additional $1,444,806.00 in LIP funding from the State, which results in a total of $2,606,542.00 in support).
HCH- $229,748.00 in county support. (HCH will receive an additional $285,729.00 in LIP funding from the State, which results in a total of $515,477.00 in support).
The final LIP payments may vary slightly based upon statewide participation.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign the Funding Agreement, LOA and Questionnaire is granted pursuant to Resolution 17-70.
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Evara
AHCA
Opioid Task Force
Operation PAR, Inc.
Florida Department of Health, Pinellas County Health Department
Attachments:
Funding Agreement
Evara LOA
Evara Questionnaire
HCH LOA
HCH Questionnaire