DATE:

 

101/14/2002

SUBJECT: FINAL READING ORDINANCE NO. 2002-O-002

Authorizing the City Manager to accept grant and amend the City of Laredo FY 2002 annual budget in the amount of $111,336 from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for the Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP) Outreach Project of the City of Laredo Health Department for the period beginning February 1, 2002, through August 31, 2003.

INITIATED BY:                                                           STAFF SOURCE:               

Cynthia Collazo                                                              Hector F. Gonzalez, M.D., M.P.H.

Asst. City Manager                                                         Health Director

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:  On December 17, 2001, Council held public hearing introducing ordinance and instructed staff to proceed with final reading.

BACKGROUND:

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has contracted with the City of Laredo to provide public health services to residents of Laredo and Webb County through the City of Laredo Health Department.

 

The City of Laredo Health Department was awarded a grant for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) outreach and enrollment assistance activity.  Under the supervision of the City of Laredo Health Department’s Health Education Division, this program will provide the following services:

 

  1. conduct outreach activities that will reach families for uninsured children in ways that are culturally competent and locally appropriate,
  2. provide application assistance to families of uninsured children applying for health insurance,
  3. publicize within the communities/counties of Webb, Zapata, and Jim Hogg the availability of health insurance to uninsured children, regardless of their income or family situation,
  4. educate families about the value and proper use of health insurance,
  5. reduce the number of uninsured children in Texas,
  6. work in conjunction with local community-based organizations (CBO’s) and programs in the promotion of awareness, education and application assistance.  These CBO’s  include but are not be limited to Mercy Regional Medical Center, Family Medicine Program and Texas A&M University, College of Architecture, Center for Urban Housing and Development, Colonias Project, the United Independent School District, the Laredo Independent School District, the CAA Headstart, the United Way, local churches;
  7. create a culturally competent and appropriate media promotional campaign, and
  8. assist in re-enrollment process of families currently participating in insurance program.

 

As of Monday, November 30, 2001, 10,731 applications for health insurance for children in Laredo and Webb County, 728 for Zapata County, and 324 for Jim Hogg had been received by the TexCare Partnership office in Austin.

(BUDGET ON NEXT PAGE)

FINANCIAL: The City of Laredo will receive funds in the amount of $111,336 in additional funds for the Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP) Outreach Project of the City of Laredo Health Department for the fiscal year 2002-2003 .

RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

STAFF:  Recommends that Council approve ordinance.

 

                                                                                                  BUDGET

 

                                                                  

 

 

ORDINANCE     2002-O-002

 

Authorizing the City Manager to accept GRANT and amend the City of Laredo FY 2002 annual budget in the amount of $111,336 from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for the Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP) Outreach Project of the City of Laredo Health Department for the period beginning February 1, 2002, through aUGUST 31, 2003.

 

 

            WHEREAS, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has contracted with the City of Laredo to provide public health services to residents of Laredo and Webb County through the City of Laredo Health Department, and

 

            WHEREAS,  the  City of Laredo Health Department was awarded a grant for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) outreach and enrollment assistance activity.  Under the supervision of the City of Laredo Health Department’s Health Education Division, this program will provide the following services:

 

  1. conduct outreach activities that will reach families for uninsured children in ways that are culturally competent and locally appropriate,
  2. provide application assistance to families of uninsured children applying for health insurance,
  3. publicize within the communities/counties of Webb, Zapata, and Jim Hogg the availability of health insurance to uninsured children, regardless of their income or family situation,
  4. educate families about the value and proper use of health insurance,
  5. reduce the number of uninsured children in Texas,
  6. work in conjunction with local community-based organizations (CBO’s) and programs in the promotion of awareness, education and application assistance.  These CBO’s  include but are not be limited to Mercy Regional Medical Center, Family Medicine Program and Texas A&M University, College of Architecture, Center for Urban Housing and Development, Colonias Project, the United Independent School District, the Laredo Independent School District, the CAA Headstart, the United Way, local churches; and
  7. create a culturally competent and appropriate media promotional campaign; and
  8. assist in re-enrollment process of families currently participating in insurance program; and

 

            WHEREAS,  as of November 30, 2001, 10,731 applications for health insurance for children in Laredo and Webb County, 728 for Zapata County, and 324 for Jim Hogg had been received by the TexCare Partnership office in Austin.

 

             NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAREDO THAT:

 

Section 1:        The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute the contract and accept the grants and their provisions as set forth by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

                                   

Section 2:        The City of Laredo accepts additional funds in the amount of $111,336 in additional funds for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) of the City of Laredo Health Department.

 

Section 3:        Revenue line item 226-0000-323-4074 funded by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is increased from $0 to $111,336.

 

Section 4:        Expenditure line item 226-6062  is increased from $0 to $111,336.

 

Section 5:        The City Manager is hereby authorized to make transfers within the

budget as allowable under the General Provisions of the existing general            

contract with the Texas Department of Health to meet the necessary costs

to accomplish the scope of work for the project.

 

            PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR

 

ON THIS _________________ DAY OF ________________________, 2002.

 

 

 

__________________________

ELIZABETH G. FLORES

MAYOR

 

ATTEST:

 

__________________________

GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR.

CITY SECRETARY

 

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

 

__________________________

JAIME FLORES

CITY ATTORNEY