On January 29, 2019, the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) adopted a new policy and procedure to provide guidance on how Intergovernmental Transfer (IGT) funding is administered by the Agency. The policy allows for some portion of IGT funds to be allocated towards emerging health and human service needs each year. The document further describes the detailed process for identifying and approving these emerging needs expenditures. Attachment A provides a summary of that process.
In accordance with the policy and procedure referenced above, the Yolo County Administrator's Office in coordination with HHSA is recommending the construction of a pharmacy in Winters, in partnership with Winters Healthcare, as a proposed IGT emerging needs project in fiscal year 2020-21, with a requested allocation of $215,000.
Proposed Project
The west side of I-5 in Yolo County, including Winters, is without a pharmacy, a key component of achieving optimal health, especially for individuals with chronic disease such as hypertension and diabetes. Eagle Drug on Main Street in Winters previously provided pharmacy services but closed permanently in late 2020 leaving the community without a pharmacy. The proposed project will provide funding for the construction of a Winters Pharmacy within the existing facility of the Winters Healthcare federally qualified health center. Ongoing operations of the facility will be overseen by Winters Healthcare and will serve all in the community, including individuals outside of the Winters Healthcare system.
For the last 32 years, Eagle Drug had been a central business in Winters and the only pharmacy in the town. Nearly 80% (more than 2,000 patients) of Winters Healthcare Foundation (WHF), the largest healthcare provider in Winters, chose Eagle Drug as their primary pharmacy. Conservative estimates indicate that all WHF patients made up somewhere between 30-40% of Eagle Drugs monthly prescriptions. Thus, between 60-70% of community members NOT associated with WHF also received their prescriptions from Eagle Drug. In addition, Eagle Drug was providing tele-pharmacy services to residents of Esparto during the pandemic. Esparto purportedly made up 15-20% of the prescriptions Eagle Drug was filling regularly.
The Winters Healthcare service area includes not only Winters, but up to Madison and Esparto as well. Of the service area population, 32% or approximately 4,165 individuals, have incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level and are uninsured, underinsured, and Medicaid insured. The community of Winters has a population of roughly 7,000 residents. There are 3,463 Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers (MSFW) and their families on the westside of the county and slightly more than 2,000 MSFW in the target area according to Winters Healthcare’s most recent independent community needs assessment which was completed in fall of 2016. The 2,000 plus farmworkers represent 61% of all MFSW in the service area. Many seniors, migrant and seasonal farmworkers, and low-income individuals count on a local pharmacy because they do not have reliable/consistent transportation.
Attachment B provides the budget resolution. The proposed funds will be moved to the County Administrator's Office to oversee the implementation of the project. The funds will be utilized for consultants, phones, security, and construction of the facility.
Per the HHSA IGT policy and procedure, the proposed project has been reviewed and recommended for approval by the HHSA Director, County Administrator’s Office, and Budget Board Ad Hoc Subcommittee. At this time, staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve use of IGT emerging needs funding for the Winters pharmacy emerging needs project. |
| Item |
Description |
Cost |
| Consultants for setup/implementation |
Cardinal and or other local consultants |
$ 80,000 |
| Phones |
|
$ 2,000 |
| Security (cameras, doors, locking cabinetry etc) |
|
$ 8,000 |
| Construction |
Initial non-prevailing wage estimates provided by RCP Construction |
$ 125,000 |
| TOTAL REQUEST |
|
$ 215,000 |
Winters Healthcare will be responsible for on-going costs associated with the facility, including personnel, estimated at $289,955. |
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