Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Community Partnerships
Information
Requested Action
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A. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to allocate $1,344,891 in Fiscal Year 2025-2026 funding for behavioral health and intervention services from previously awarded recipient Henderson Behavioral Health, Inc. to substitute recipient Florida Agency for Health Care Administration; to approve and execute any and all documents necessary to implement same, subject to review and approval of the legally binding documents for legal sufficiency by the County Attorney’s Office and provided the allocation does not impose any additional material risk or financial obligation on the County, as determined by the County Administrator after consultation with the County Attorney’s Office as to legal issues; and to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions related to the allocation.
B. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute a Letter of Agreement between the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and Broward County, in the amount of $226,136, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, subject to review and approval for legal sufficiency by the County Attorney’s Office, to provide matching funds for the State of Florida Medicaid Low Income Pool program that will be distributed to Broward Community and Family Health Centers, Inc., a federally qualified health center; and to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the Agreement.
C. MOTION TO APPROVE waiver of conflict under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, for the following Broward County advisory board members holding an employment or contractual relationship with an entity receiving funds for the performance of services under this agenda item:
1. Rosalyn Frazier
2. Steven Ronik
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Why Action is Necessary
A. Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) approval is required for agreements, or delegation of authority to enter into agreements, with external agencies.
B. Section 409.915, Florida Statutes, requires local governmental entities to provide matching funds for the State of Florida Medicaid Low Income Pool (“LIP”) program.
C. A waiver of conflict arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, requires two-thirds approval by the Commission.
What Action Accomplishes
Approval of Motion A would enable the provision of required matching funds to the LIP program for uninsured residents who receive behavioral health services from Henderson Behavioral Health, Inc. (“Henderson”).
Approval of Motion B would enable the provision of required matching funds to the LIP program for uninsured residents who receive health services at federally qualified health center (“FQHC”) Broward Community and Family Health Centers, Inc.
Approval of Motion C waives the existence of any conflicts arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, as authorized under applicable law.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
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Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
These actions support the Commission’s value of “building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives” and the goal of “delivering accessible human services that holistically address the whole person collaboratively and compassionately.” Approval allows Broward County to provide the matching funds for the LIP program.
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (“AHCA”) has established that certain hospitals, medical school physician practices, FQHC, rural clinics, and behavioral health providers are eligible to receive LIP funding for uncompensated care provided in the respective facilities. Commission approval allows Broward County to meet the local match requirements for the LIP program. Funding will go to AHCA to distribute to the FQHC and behavioral health provider for the delivery of medical services to uninsured residents and allow for compliance with Section 409.915, Florida Statutes.
Broward County has provided funding for LIP to AHCA for distribution to Broward Community and Family Health Centers, Inc. (“BCOM”) since 2017. On August 22, 2024 (Item No. 15), the Commission authorized the execution of the Letter of Agreement in the amount of $226,136 for LIP to be paid to AHCA for BCOM. On October 8, 2024 (Item No. 55), the Commission authorized the County Administrator to reallocate $1,344,891 during Fiscal Year 2024-2025 from funds previously awarded to Henderson. Henderson is requesting similar funding for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. This funding will be used to leverage the LIP program funding from AHCA and will allow Henderson to draw down approximately $3 million to provide behavioral health services to uninsured clients (Exhibit 1). Though the amount requested by Henderson was $1,500,000, the maximum amount required by AHCA from the County is $1,344,891. Therefore, when added to the amount for BCOM, the aggregate amount County will send AHCA under both Letters of Agreement will be $1,571,027.
LIP funding will allow BCOM to deliver health care services and Henderson to deliver behavioral health services to new patients. BCOM will serve clients at four clinical sites located throughout Broward County in Hollywood, West Park, Lauderhill, and Pompano Beach. Henderson will serve clients through its many mental health centers throughout Broward County in Hollywood, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, and Tamarac.
Both BCOM and Henderson follow the state’s Fiscal Year from July 1 to June 30. During its previous Fiscal Year, BCOM served 391 new patients, exceeding its original estimate of 230, and projects it will serve approximately 530 new patients during Fiscal Year 2025-2026. To date, Henderson has served 2471 new patients for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 and projects it will serve approximately 3,000 new patients during Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
AHCA’s Letters of Agreement are expected to arrive in September, and must be signed by October 1, 2025, with funding disbursed by County by October 31, 2025. The Letters of Agreement will enable both BCOM and Henderson to receive LIP matching funds, will be in the state’s format, and will be reviewed and approved by the County Attorney’s Office for legal sufficiency prior to execution by the County Administrator.
Approval of this item would give rise to certain employment conflicts under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, which provides that "no public officer... shall have or hold any employment or contractual relationship with any business entity... which is... doing business with an agency of which he or she is an officer or employee." In accordance with 112.313(12), Florida Statutes, Commission approval is required to waive any conflict of interest arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes. An effective waiver requires two-thirds vote of the Commission after disclosure of the conflicting relationship (Motion C) in accordance with Section 112.313(12), Florida Statutes. Forms 4A, Disclosure of Business Transaction, Relationship, or Interest, are attached to this report as Exhibit 2 and constitutes full disclosure of any existing conflicts.
Source of Additional Information
Cassandra Evans, Director, Community Partnerships Division, (954) 357-6398
Jessica Roy, Administrator, Health Care Services, (954) 357-5394
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Reallocated and matching funds in the amount of $1,571,027 will be allocated in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Broward County budget.