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.
label
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).
• 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 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 abuse 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) 2025 Adopted Budget for potential LOAs as follows: Evara - $803,420.23 in County support to receive an additional $1,072,415.00 in LIP funding from the State; and HCH - $249,004.20 in County support to receive an additional $332,374.00 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 $150,000.00 more than required in FY24; the HCH IGT is approximately $25,000.00 more.
• Funding for these agreements is included in the FY25 Adopted Budget of the Human Services Department in the General Fund.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
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
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of county services and support
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.
In calendar year 2023, the HCH LIP funding supported substance use treatment for 191 clients. The Evara LIP funding supported an average of 807 unique healthcare clients per month in Lealman and an average of 322 unique dental clients per month in south St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Additionally, Evara established and maintained 16 naloxone distribution points and distributed 1,194 naloxone kits in 2023.
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 $1,052,424.00 is consistent with the development of the Human Services FY25 Adopted Budget to support the IGT payments under the two LOAs.
Evara- $803,420.23 in county support. (Evara will receive an additional $1,072,415.00 in LIP funding from the State, which results in a total of $1,875,835.00 in support).
HCH- $249,004.20 in county support. (HCH will receive an additional $332,374.00 in LIP funding from the State, which results in a total of $581,378.00 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 Questionnaires is granted pursuant to Resolution 17-70.
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Evara
Healthcare for the Homeless Co-Applicant Board
AHCA
Florida Department of Health, Pinellas County Health Department
Pinellas County Opioid Task Force
Operation PAR, Inc.
Attachments:
Evara Funding Agreement
AHCA LOA- Evara
Evara Questionnaire
AHCA LOA- HCH
HCH Questionnaire