By Zoom
3:00 – 4:30pm
Members Present: David Klotz (Governmental Co-chair), David Martin (Community Co-chair), Billy Fields (Finance Officer), Raffi Babakhanian, Paul Carr, LaShonda Cyrus, Rasheed Ford, Ronnie Fortunato, Steve Hemraj, Emma Kaywin, Freddy Molano, MD, Julian Palmer, Guadalupe Dominguez Plummer (ex-officio), Leah Richberg (for Joan Edwards), Marcelo Maia Soares, Brook Montes, John Schoepp
Members Absent: Marya Gilborn
Staff Present: NYC DOHMH: Michael Navejas, Scott Spiegler, Johanna Acosta, Adrianna Eppinger-Meiering, Doienne Saab, Kimbirly Mack, Jimmy Jaramillo, Renee James; Public Health Solutions: Gemma Barclay, Arya Shahi
Agenda Item #1: Welcome/Introductions/Minutes/Public Comment
Mr. Martin and Mr. Klotz opened the meeting followed by introductions and a moment of silence. The minutes from the July 18, 2024 meeting were approved with no changes.
Agenda Item #2: GY 2024 2nd Quarter Expenditure Report
Ms. Plummer presented the GY 2024 2nd quarter expenditure report. NYC Service categories showing less than expected spending include: Non-medical Case Management, Mental Health, Rental Assistance and Emergency Financial Assistance. Reasons cited include staff vacancies and retention issues, a lag in submitting invoices, and payor of last resort issues. Oral Health Services was underspent due to one contract being rescinded and the funds redistributed to the other programs in that category. Ambulatory Outpatient Care (HIV & Aging) has had problems getting approval for payments from DOHMH administration. Mental Health, Medical Transportation and Legal Services were underspent in Tri-County. Mr. Shahi assured the Committee that the third quarter report will reflect higher expenditure rates.
Agenda Item #3: GY 2024 Estimated Unobligated Balance Request
Mr. Carr presented the estimated unobligated balance request” (UOB), a HRSA requirement that all EMAs submit by the end of December an. The document tells HRSA that the EMA will ask to use unspent funds from the current grant year (i.e., 2024 carryover) in the next grant year (2025). The UOB request states that next spring we will ask to carry over as much as 5% (the maximum allowed with no penalty). The UOB uses ADAP as a placeholder for the use of the carryover funds, but we are not required to spend the carryover for that purpose. The Council will know the actual amount of carryover next spring after closeout of the grant year, after which the PSRA Committee will develop an actual carryover plan for submission to HRSA.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the GY 2024 estimated unobligated balance request. The motion was adopted 17Y-0N.
Agenda Item #4: Revised Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) Service Directive
Ms. Fortunato reminded the Committee that the revised EFA service directive was presented in June and returned to the Integration of Care (IOC) Committee to address three issues: use of peers/people with lived experience to conduct outreach to educate PWH about the availability of the service; an online portal that potential clients can use to apply for the service directly; the requirement for distinct providers in NYC and Tri-County. IOC reaffirmed the need for two programs. As per HRSA, program funds cannot be used for outreach, only for direct financial assistance, and so the IOC added language in a footnote that the Recipient will investigate incentivizing outreach and linkage to EFA services in other RWPA services. An online portal would have to be paid out of limited administrative funds and would be too costly a requirement, thus language was added in a footnote that the Recipient will investigate ways to leverage other funding to create a streamlined, confidential application process, including through an online portal, for submitting applications and necessary documentation.
In the ensuing discussion it was reiterated that, while EFA program funds cannot be used for outreach, it is important that providers and consumers know about the availability of services. DOHMH works hard to ensure that there is wide awareness of the availability of the service, and programs can still use other funds to promote it (e.g., brochures).
A motion was made and seconded to approve the revised EFA service directive. The motion was adopted 17Y-0N.
Agenda Item #5: Other Business/Public Comment
There being no further comment, the meeting was adjourned.
