08 - Financial Assistance - Paris-Lamar County Health District ARPA FundingNo. 8
Memorandum
TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem & City Council
FROM: Grayson Path, City Manager
SUBJECT: Financial Assistance — Paris -Lamar County Health District
ARPA Funding
DATE: April 11, 2022
BACKGROUND:
The Paris -Lamar County Health District has at times requested financial assistance from the City
in their continued efforts to combat CoVid-19 in the City. We have partnered with the Health
District on several occasions.
STATUS OF ISSUE:
Dr. Amanda Green has prepared a request — attached below — seeking $10,000.00 in American
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding to assist with medical expenses for individuals with minimal
financial means who have ongoing symptoms related to CoVid-19 as well as patients with more
advanced symptoms of disease with care delayed due to the pandemic. The Health District
typically receives a grant from the Lamar Delta County Medical Society for such purposes, but are
seeking additional help from both the County and City.
Their request falls well within the allowable uses for ARPA funding and the City has the necessary
funds to assist them with their request.
BUDGET:
The Health District has requested $10,000.00 in ARPA funding. The City has $430k remaining
in our current ARPA allotment. We are developing further uses for this funding, but addressing
reasonable CoVid-19 related expenses like this seems most appropriate.
OPTIONS:
1. Approve the assistance of $10,000.00 of ARPA Funding to the Paris -Lamar County Health
District for indigent patient care.
2. Disapprove the assistance.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the assistance of $10,000.00 of ARPA Funding to the Paris -Lamar County Health
District for indigent patient care.
From Dr. Amanda Green:
COVID Funds Grant Reauest
Date:
3/29/2022
Requestor:
Paris Lamar County Health District
Amount of Request:
$10,000 from City of Paris COVID fund distribution and $10,000 from Lamar County COVID fund distribution
Background:
As we emerge from our last COVID surge, our medical community is seeing large numbers of patients with ongoing
symptoms related to COVID infections and patients with more advanced symptoms of diseases as they delayed
care during the pandemic. The Paris Lamar County Health District serves our community as a safety net for
patients without insurance or funds in our community. The ongoing City and County support is invaluable. The
Lamar Delta County Medical Society in the past have awarded a grant of $2000 about every 2 years (whenever the
funds run out) to help pay for clinic visits and labs for patients that could not otherwise afford it. We generally can
serve around 60 unique patients with $2000 in the past. We have run out of our last award of grant funds faster
than usual due to the numbers of people needing to access this program. With other COVID waivers timing out
that allowed expanded Medicaid services, we anticipate a rise in the numbers of patients requiring indigent care.
Proposed Use of Funds:
The Paris Lamar County Health District requests a portion of the funds allocated to our region to please to go to
the health district that would be placed in an account to be used by indigent patients as we have used the Medical
Society funds in the past. Our administrative team keeps a detailed log of use of these funds which can be reported
back to the City and County.
The funds are accessed by patients established in the health district clinic who are referred by our financial
screeners or clinical staff when identified as needing to use the grant money to be able to obtain timely medical
care.
We requested a higher amount than we usually receive from the Medical Society to be able to offer financial
assistance with basic radiology studies. We have a discounted radiology price list from our local radiology clinic,
and are able to help obtain affordable films for our patients when needed. The requested grant money would help
patients who are not able to pay the $22-500 (depending on the study), even with our discounted rate.
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
AUTHORIZING A GRANT FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT
FUNDING TO THE PARIS-LAMAR COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT FOR COVID-
19 INDIGENT PATIENT CARE RELATED EXPENSES; MAKING OTHER
FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Paris has been allocated up to $6,000,000.00 from the federal
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT ("ARPA") to provide resources needed to address the ongoing
COVID-19 public health crisis and spur a strong economy; and
WHEREAS, under the terms of such funding, governmental entities may use the funds
in support of other governmental entities who are also working to fight COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the Paris -Lamar County Health District ("the District") is a governmental
entity formed through an interlocal cooperative agreement between the City and Lamar
County pursuant to the Local Public Health Reorganization Act, codified as Chapter 121 of
the Texas Health & Safety Code; and
WHEREAS the District has requested $10,000.00 from the City's ARPA funding for
ongoing costs incurred because of COVID-19 indigent patient care; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is in the best interest of the health and
welfare of the citizens of the city that such costs in the amount of $10,000.00 be funded
through ARPA funding;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS, THAT:
Section 1. The findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby in all
things approved.
Section 2. That the City Council authorizes the expenditure of up to $10,000.00 in
ARPA funds to the Paris -Lamar County Health District for ongoing costs related to indigent
patient care because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Section 3. This resolution shall be effective immediately upon passage.
DULY PASSED AND APPROVED this 11th day of April, 2022.
Paula Portugal, Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney