DATE: November 24, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Retroactive Revenue Agreements for Epidemiology & Laboratory Capacity Grants
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive revenue agreement with Heluna Health for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity - Coronavirus Aid, Recovery and Economic Stability Act grant, effective May 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022 ($537,756);
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive allocation award from the California Department of Public Health for Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity - Enhancing Detection, effective May 18, 2020 through November 17, 2022 ($11,672,782);
3. Adopt Budget Resolution Increasing FY 2020-21 appropriations for the Department of Public Health Fund 0080, Subclass 17366, Miscellaneous Public Health Fund Org 1166 in the amount of $2,918,196 (4/5 vote);
4. Adopt Budget Resolution Increasing FY 2020-21 appropriations and estimated revenues for the Department of Public Health Org 5620 in the amount of $2,918,196 (4/5 vote); and
5. Approve Amendment to the Salary Resolution adding three Program Technician positions to the Public Health’s Org 5620, effective November 30, 2020, as reflected in Appendix C.
REPORT
Approval of the first two recommended actions will provide a total of $12,210,538 in new funding from Heluna Health and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to the Department for continued COVID-19 response efforts and improved pandemic preparedness related to epidemiology and public health laboratory capacity. Approval of the recommended actions will provide supplemental funding upon the expiration of Coronavirus Aid, Recovery and Economic Stability (CARES) Act funding on December 30, 2020, with no increase in Net County Cost. Approval of the third and fourth recommended actions will increase the Department of Public Health FY 2020-21 appropriations and estimated revenue for COVID-19 response efforts. Approval of the fifth recommended action will amend the Salary Resolution adding three Program Technician positions to the Public Health’s Org 5620. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, the Department would be unable to continue providing COVID-19 response efforts after the end of this calendar year.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended Heluna Health agreement was received on September 9, 2020 and is retroactive to May 1, 2020. The recommended CDPH award was received on September 10, 2020 and is retroactive to May 18, 2020.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommended agreement with Heluna Health will provide $537,756 from May 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022. The recommended award from CDPH will provide $11,672,782 from May 18, 2020 through November 17, 2022. There are no outstanding invoices related to the agreements. The Department plans to begin expending these funds after the expiration of CARES Act funding on December 30, 2020.
Neither grant has an annual maximum; Recommended Actions one and two will provide $12,210,538. For planning purposes, the Department has budgeted $513,703 of the Heluna Health funds and is requesting with Recommended Actions three and four to make budget adjustments of $2,918,196 for the CDPH award in FY 2020-21. Indirect cost recovery at the Department’s full rate of 22.674% is allowable by both grants but was not requested in the Heluna Health grant in order to maximize available funding for programmatic expenses. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget. Approval of Recommended Action five will add three Program Technician positions at an estimated cost of $102,996, which will be covered by local CARES Act and grant funding. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in subsequent budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
The Department has been responding to COVID-19 since February 2020. As of November 12, 2020, there have been a total of 33,287 cases, with 456 deaths. Approximately 389,199 test results have been received and processed. As of October 27, 2020, the County is in Tier 2, which means the County Risk Level is “Substantial.” There are 4-7 new cases per 100,000. In order to mitigate and ultimately eliminate the spread of COVID, the County needs to continue with COVID-19 response efforts.
Approval of the recommended actions will provide funding for a minimum of 50 COVID-19 response staff, testing supplies, an improved surveillance database and software systems, vaccine distribution preparedness, and subcontracts with local community benefit organizations to advance health equity and enable quarantine and isolation mandates during the pandemic. The Department intends to access the recommended funding upon the expiration of current CARES Act funding on December 30, 2020, unless extended by the Federal government.
The addition of three Program Technicians will add advanced support and is required for the Department’s COVID-19 response efforts related to laboratory data management. These positions will be responsible for reviewing and cleaning data entered by medical investigators, contact tracers, and laboratory staff.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Revenue Agreement with Heluna Health for ELC - CARES Act
On file with Clerk - Acceptance of Award from CDPH for ELC - Enhancing Detection
On file with Clerk - Budget Resolution (Org 1166)
On file with Clerk - Budget Resolution (Org 5620)
Appendix C
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa