Subject:
Title
Grant Application with the Agency for Health Care Administration, State of Florida for Community & Primary Care Services
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Recommend the County Administrator approve and sign the Grant Application with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), State of Florida for the Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) program.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener and purchaser of services for those in need
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
This grant application for state funding supports the County’s HCH program. The County, through this Community & Primary Care Services funding opportunity, is seeking to increase access to primary care services and prevent unnecessary emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalization for approximately 300 homeless individuals needing behavioral health services. This proposal supports hospital emergency room diversion through the addition of 3.5 behavioral health staff and services. The program proposed will do this by providing disease management, in the form of management of mental illness and substance abuse. In addition, this program will improve patient compliance with the addition of additional staff.
Background/Explanation:
The agency will award grants to those programs most capable of reducing health spending while improving the health status of uninsured and underinsured persons in their communities. Programs receiving grants shall reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and preventable hospitalizations by providing disease management; improving patient compliance; and coordinating services such as needed physician, diagnostic, dental, nurse practitioner, pharmaceutical, and other supporting services.
Fiscal Impact:
AHCA Community & Primary Care Services Grant Application for $540,654.00. No county match is required.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Grant Application is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(4).
Staff Member Responsible:
Lourdes Benedict, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Mobile Medical Unit Advisory Council
Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County
BayCare Behavioral Health
Directions for Living