Title
Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board approve the extension of the California Department of Public Health funding period for funding awarded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Enhancing Detection Expansion Program through July 31, 2024.
FUNDING: 100% Federal Coronavirus Relief Funding.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On March 16, 2021 (File ID: 21-0366) the County of El Dorado Board of Supervisors approved the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) and HHSA spending plan for the funding provided by the CDC, awarded by CDPH through the ELC Enhancing Detection program spending plan. As part of the CARES Act and Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act supplements, El Dorado County received an allocation award of $6,503,584 from the ELC Enhancing Detection Program.
ELC allocation awards are intended to help prevent, prepare for, and respond to emerging infections by supporting testing, case investigation and contact tracing, surveillance, containment, and mitigation efforts. ELC funding affords jurisdictions the flexibility to enhance and maintain levels of public health specific personnel, equipment, systems, and activities as needed, which can:
1) support workforce, epidemiology, use by employers, elementary and secondary schools, childcare facilities, institutions of higher education, or long-term care facilities;
2) scale up or enhance testing by public health departments, academic, commercial, and hospital laboratories, and, community-based testing sites, mobile testing units, health care facilities, and;
3) scale up or enhance case investigation and contact tracing, surveillance, containment, and mitigation (including interstate compacts or other mutual aid agreements for such purposes).
Based upon allowable use categories for ELC funding, coupled with current and future needs for personnel, equipment, systems, and activities that will ensure that the HHSA Public Health Division can continue facilitating key aspects of El Dorado County’s response to emerging infections, on March 16, 2021, the Board approved the HHSA spending plan that would allow the most flexibility in meeting local response needs as they evolve (File ID: 21-0366).
On June 16, 2022, CDPH notified counties of the extension of the ELC funding term, originally from January 15, 2021, through July 31, 2023, to the new term through July 31, 2024. HHSA is recommending Board approval of the extended funding term to align with the funding source. The extension of the funding will not alter the Board-approved spending plan.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve staff’s recommendation the funding period would not be extended past July 31, 2023.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 5/17/22, 22-0507, 05/17/22 HHSA Funding out Agmt 6466 Barton
2) 3/8/22, 22-0009, 03/08/22 HHSA 6246 El Dorado County Community Health Center, COVID-19 ELC68
3) 4/5/22, 21-1987, 04/05/22 HHSA 6218 Marshall Medical Center, COVID-19 ELC68
4) 11/9/21, 21-1416, 11/09/21 HHSA Public Knowledge 5165 A1
5) 3/16/21, 21-0366, 03/16/21 CAO and HHSA CARES ACT
6) 8/4/20, 20-1013, CAO recommending CARES Act Spending
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Federal Coronavirus Relief Funding of $6.5m. There is no increase to General Fund cost as a result of this item. To the extent any of this funding is used to offset currently budgeted expenses within Public Health, the use of Public Health Realignment would be reduced, potentially increasing the balance in that special revenue fund. Sufficient appropriations were included in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget and will be included in future budgets for the term of the funding.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Interim Director, Health and Human Services Agency