Action 20.
Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting
Health & Social Services
- Meeting Date:
- 11/15/2022
- Title:
- IGA with Pinal County Public Health
- Submitted By:
- Alicia Thompson, Health & Social Services
- Department:
- Health & Social Services
Presentation:
No A/V Presentation
Recommendation:
Approve
Document Signatures:
BOS Signature Required
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
1
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Belinda Gonzalez
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Lead Public Health Nurse Clinical Services
Mandated Function?:
Not Mandated
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
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Information
Agenda Item Text:
Approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between Pinal County Public Health Services District and Cochise County Health and Social Services for the enhancement of the health and well-being of women in Cochise County, effective November 16, 2022 through December 31, 2023.
Background:
Background (Brief):
Cochise County Health and Social Services provides reproductive health services through the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant. This grant funds efforts to “provide accessible, comprehensive education, screening and contraceptive services to underserved individuals of reproductive age.”
Research indicates that women who can plan and space their pregnancies are likely to have healthier babies. The reduction of unplanned pregnancy increases the likelihood that women will receive early and continuous prenatal care and infants will experience improved birth outcomes.
Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) include intrauterine devices (IUD) and implants and have a lower risk of pregnancy when compared to injectables, pills, condoms, fertility awareness methods, etc. Currently, Cochise County Health and Social Services does not offer any LARC methods.
The implementation of IUDs and implants as a form of contraception has been a work in progress for over a year. On June 15, 2021, a BOS Work Session was conducted to discuss the updating of the reproductive health service fees and the introduction of a sliding fee scale for reproductive health services. On December 14, 2021, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the reproductive health service fees and sliding fee scale. These fees included the insertion and removal of LARC (IUD) with the intention being that in the future we would be able to provide those services.
Approval of the IGA will allow the CCHSS healthcare provider to receive supervised training from Pinal County healthcare provider(s) on the insertion and removal of long-active reversible contraceptives (LARC).
Cochise County Health and Social Services provides reproductive health services through the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant. This grant funds efforts to “provide accessible, comprehensive education, screening and contraceptive services to underserved individuals of reproductive age.”
Research indicates that women who can plan and space their pregnancies are likely to have healthier babies. The reduction of unplanned pregnancy increases the likelihood that women will receive early and continuous prenatal care and infants will experience improved birth outcomes.
Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) include intrauterine devices (IUD) and implants and have a lower risk of pregnancy when compared to injectables, pills, condoms, fertility awareness methods, etc. Currently, Cochise County Health and Social Services does not offer any LARC methods.
The implementation of IUDs and implants as a form of contraception has been a work in progress for over a year. On June 15, 2021, a BOS Work Session was conducted to discuss the updating of the reproductive health service fees and the introduction of a sliding fee scale for reproductive health services. On December 14, 2021, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the reproductive health service fees and sliding fee scale. These fees included the insertion and removal of LARC (IUD) with the intention being that in the future we would be able to provide those services.
Approval of the IGA will allow the CCHSS healthcare provider to receive supervised training from Pinal County healthcare provider(s) on the insertion and removal of long-active reversible contraceptives (LARC).
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
If approved, we will schedule times for Dr. April Power to go to Pinal County to receive supervised training.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
CCHSS will not be able to provide intrauterine devices (IUDs) or implants to women in Cochise County (IUDs and implants), thus limiting the options of birth control available to women.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
Please forward signed copy of the agreement to the Health Director Alicia M. Thompson. Please send pdf copy of the signed agreement to Belinda O. Gonzalez and Maira Ibarra.