Title
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Funding Out Agreement 9084 with El Dorado County Community Health Center (EDCHC) for the purchase of dental equipment for installment at a new EDCHC dental location in South Lake Tahoe, in the amount of $400,000 and for the term upon execution through December 31, 2025;
2) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute amendments relating to Agreement 9084 which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or extend the term of the agreement beyond December 31, 2026, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management; and
3) Authorize the HHSA Director, or the Chief Assistant Director, to execute programmatic, administrative, and fiscal documents relating to Agreement 9084.
FUNDING: 100% Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted access to oral health care services in El Dorado County (EDC), particularly in South Lake Tahoe (SLT). Dental services in SLT are critical for improving the health and quality of life for children and the broader community. Between 2021-2023, the number of dental providers accepting Medi-Cal was drastically reduced due to the pandemic. As of April 2024, no Medi-Cal-accepting dental provider remained in the SLT basin.
The pandemic forced many dental practices to close temporarily or reduce services, impacting providers serving vulnerable populations, including Medi-Cal recipients. The SLT community, already underserved in dental care before the pandemic, has seen further decline in access with the nearest Medi-Cal dentist now located in Placerville creating significant barriers to care. HHSA's Public Health Division (PHD) realized that every day that passed without a stable dental provider in SLT was a day of decline, impact, and potential illness that was going unchecked. In t...
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