Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Tamarra Jones, Director, Public Health Policy and Planning
Subject: Acceptance of Award from the California Department of Public Health for Implementation of the Hepatitis C Virus Collaboration Project Grant No. 24-HCV15
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the acceptance of an award from the California Department of Public Health to develop and implement public health activities related to hepatitis C control and prevention, for the term of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $801,128.
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BACKGROUND:
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) surveillance data indicates that over the past five years, there were continued increases in the rate of newly reported hepatitis C infections. The purpose of the grant is to implement public health activities related to monitoring, prevention, testing, and linkage to and retention in care activities for the most vulnerable and underserved individuals living with, or at high risk for, HCV infection.
DISCUSSION:
HCV is prevalent among California's prison population. As of September 2023, 25% of nearly 95,000 residents in 33 prisons in California had a history of HCV. In order to identify HCV cases, link to treatment and reduce the transmission of HCV, funding from this award will be used to offset the cost of 1.0 FTE Communicable Disease Investigator with the Public Health, Policy and Planning (PHPP) division, who will provide routine, universal opt-out rapid HCV screening for all incarcerated persons in San Mateo County jails and link identified cases to treatment.
This agreement is coming to your Board late due to delayed receipt of the CDPH agreement.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
It is anticipated that approximately 100 rapid HCV tests will be completed and followed up with using the funds in this agreement.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2023-24 Actual |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
|
Number of rapid HCV tests that will be completed and followed up with using the funds in this agreement |
98 Tests |
100 Tests |
EQUITY IMPACT:
This funding aims to address health disparities related to incarcerated persons. HCV is more prevalent in the incarcerated population than in the general population, with some estimates suggesting it is 10 times higher. Recent data suggests that HCV seroprevalence among incarcerated populations in the US ranges from 3.0% to 34.6%, which exceeds the 1.7% HCV seroprevalence in the general population. This funding addresses these disparities by providing HCV screening, education, and follow-up linkage to care to ensure any incarcerated person with an active HCV infection is connected to accessible treatment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of this agreement is July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2028. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed is $801,128 for the four-year term. Funds in the amount of $200,282 will be included in the PHPP FY 2024-25 Approved Recommended Budget. Similar arrangements will be made for future years. Since the County is receiving these funds and no matching funds are required, there is no Net County Cost associated with this agreement.