Title
Health Resources and Services Administration American Rescue Plan Act - Grant Approval - $8,760,875 - Burke, Zun
Body
Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center (LCHD/CHC) was awarded $8,760,875 from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The period of performance for this award is April 1, 2021 - March 31, 2023.This grant is to be utilized to support activities in four different funding categories:
• COVID-19 Vaccinations
• COVID-19 Response and Treatment Capacity
• Maintaining and Increasing Capacity
• Recovery and Stabilization
LCHD/CHC will use these funds as follows:
• COVID-19 Vaccinations: To cover related expenses for FQHC Vaccination Site staff, outreach staff, equipment and supplies.
• COVID-19 Response and Treatment Capacity: To cover related expenses for the Respiratory Illness Clinic (RIC), laboratory testing, enhanced housekeeping services, FQHC building entry screeners.
• Maintaining and Increasing Capacity: Two major initiatives will be started and completed during the performance period with sustainability post the end of the performance period.
o Operational Efficiencies: LCHD/CHC will hire a consulting firm to assist in reviewing and improving daily operations in each FQHC clinic site. Doing so will improve productivity, increase patient access and satisfaction, reduce patient wait times, develop teamwork, improve staff satisfaction, improve quality outcomes and optimize the use of technology. Additionally, all FQHC leadership will attend a management training program to strengthen their leadership skills.
o Fee For Service to Value Based Care Transformation: LCHD/CHC will embark upon a major transition from a fee-for-service-based practice model to a value-based care model. For patients it potentially means better outcomes and lower costs. For providers, it can increase patient satisfaction and improve efficiency. The payers have the benefit of stronger cost controls and reduced risks. Society will reap reduced healthcare spending and better overall health. Value-based care stresses a team-oriented, coordinated approach to patient care with the use of patient data to measure utilizations and outcomes. The review of data will assist in assessing proper utilization of resources such as hospital admissions and emergency department usage. The goals are to increase patient engagement and reduce adverse events and improve outcomes. With the assistance of a consultant, the process to make this change is quite substantial in that it will change the way care is provided to patients, change interface with payers and alter care team patient management.
• Recovery and Stabilization: Additional related expenses to be covered include:
o Specialty care services for the uninsured: implementation of eConsults and additional funding for external specialty care
o Expanding retinal exam capacity
o Dental equipment replacement and additional purchases to enhance care
o Women’s Health Program additional sterilization equipment to enhance procedures performed
o AccuVax and AccuShelf software and interface expenses
o Otto telehealth system to continue video telehealth services
o Empanelment process software support and interoperability
o Credentialing software
Suggested Motion
To approve the HRSA ARPA funding in the amount of $8,760,875 for COVID-19 Vaccinations, COVID-19 Response and Treatment Capacity, Maintaining and Increasing Capacity and Recovery and Stabilization Activities.