DATE: December 14, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director, Department of Public Health
Susan Holt, Interim Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Monetary donation from Anthem, Inc.
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Adopt Resolution accepting and expressing gratitude for a monetary donation of $9,000 from Anthem, Inc. to the Departments of Public Health and Behavioral Health;
2. Approve and authorize the Departments of Public Health and Behavioral Health Directors, or designees, to execute donation acceptance letter required by Anthem, Inc. to receive monetary donation, on behalf of the Board of Supervisors for the harm reduction pilot project; and
3. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2021-22 appropriations and estimated revenues for the Department of Public Health Org 5620 in the amount of $9,000 to purchase one vending machine (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommended actions satisfy the reporting and approval requirements under Board of Supervisors Administrative Policy Number 30 - Donations, for donations greater than $7,500 in value. The Departments of Public Health and Behavioral Health will complete a donation acceptance letter to Anthem, Inc. (Anthem) to support a harm reduction pilot project. The Department of Public Health will start the procurement process for a vending machine to be used as the method to provide easy access to harm reduction items such as personal protective equipment face coverings, pregnancy tests, HIV Home test kits, condoms, naloxone, fentanyl testing strips, lockable pill containers, oral health kits, hygiene kits, personal grooming kits, and hand sanitizer. The departments will collaborate with Anthem to evaluate the County building location and items that will be available. Based on the success of the pilot project additional support may be provided by Anthem. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose not to accept the donation, in which case the funds will not be available to support the future harm reduction pilot project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The Anthem donation is intended to provide tools and access to low-barrier health products and educational materials for County residents and will be managed by the Department of Public Health. The proposed budget resolution will increase appropriations and estimated revenues by $9,000 in Org 5620 for acquisition of the vending machine and items.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed harm reduction pilot project was developed as a result of Anthem requesting a meeting to introduce the concept they’ve implemented in some California counties and particularly discussed El Dorado and Plumas counties in Northern California. Anthem hosted a joint meeting with Plumas County to review their extensive utilization of the harm reduction vending machines and the positive feedback they’ve received from their communities.
The project will be a vending machine to provide low-barrier health products to County residents at a strategic location to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, overdoses, and improve hygiene. The departments will provide items such as personal protective equipment face coverings, pregnancy tests, HIV Home test kits, condoms, naloxone, fentanyl testing strips, lockable pill containers, oral health kits, hygiene kits, personal grooming kits, and hand sanitizer. Products may change based on continuous evaluation of community needs. The products will be packaged in discreet boxes and contain health education materials and information on other services offered in the County.
County residents will be able to register to receive a mag strip card to access the vending machine. Demographic information will be collected at the time of registration to meet all County and State funding requirements for supplies being made available in the vending machine. The machine software will also collect real-time data to better understand the needs of our communities. Multiple sites are being evaluated that meet indoor electrical, data, and large resident traffic areas for placement of the vending machine. The County will retain ownership of the machine purchased with these funds.
DONOR DISCLOSURES:
To satisfy reporting requirements under Administrative Policy 30 for donations greater than $7,500 in value, the following is provided:
• The County has memorandum of understanding with Anthem, Inc., a local managed care plan, pursuant to Title 9, for the coordination of specialty mental health, substance use treatment and/or public health services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries enrolled with Anthem.
• Anthem is not a contractor who has bid on a County contract in the last 12 months.
• The Departments of Public Health and Behavioral Health have no knowledge that the donor will bid on any County contract within the next 12 months.
• Anthem has provided a monetary donation of $9,000, to purchase a vending machine to provide low-barrier health/harm reduction products to County residents.
Upon your Board’s approval of the recommended actions, the Departments of Public Health and Behavioral Health will receive a donation check, in the amount of $9,000 from Anthem to support a future harm reduction pilot project.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org 5620)
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa