Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF CARSON AND MERCY PHARMACY GROUP, INC., RELATED TO PROVISION OF COVID TESTING AND VACCINATIONS FOR CITY RESIDENTS AT CITY SITES
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I. SUMMARY
In an effort to protect residents from the spread of COVID-19, the City Council may wish to approve the proposed partnership with Mercy Pharmacy Group, Inc. (“Mercy”) whereby Mercy will be granted free use of City sites in order to provide free COVID testing and vaccinations for City residents on an on-call basis. This program is intended to inform residents of when to initiate measures to curb the spread of the virus, as well as to facilitate their ability to obtain vaccinations to protect themselves from the most life-threatening impacts brought by COVID. To effectuate the provision of these services, staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed non-monetary Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between the City and Mercy.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE all of the following actions:
1. APPROVE the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Carson and Mercy Pharmacy Group, Inc. (Exhibit No. 1; the “MOU”).
2. AUTHORIZE the City Manager to execute the MOU following approval as to form by the City Attorney.
1.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE any other action the Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
The City Council declared a local state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 17, 2020. Among its many efforts to curb the spread of the virus, the City partnered with Mercy Pharmacy Group, Inc. to provide ongoing vaccine clinics at the Carson Community Center. This collaboration proved seamless and effective, which has now led to the proposed MOU for the delivery of both COVID testing and vaccinations at City sites.
Under the MOU, Mercy will provide COVID testing and vaccination services directly to City residents at City sites at no out-of-pocket cost to residents and no cost to City (Mercy will bill third-party payors such as federal COVID response funding lines, Medical, Medicare, and commercial insurance, but will not bill the recipients or the City for testing or vaccination services rendered if the recipient’s insurance company or other third-party payor declines to pay the charge for such services). The City will permit the use of City sites for such purposes at City’s discretion and at no cost to Mercy. Testing services will be provided to the extent and frequency set at the capacity of Mercy and discretion of City, acting through its contract officer (the City Manager or designee). Vaccination services (administration of COVID vaccines and boosters) will be provided directly to residents on an on-call basis at the discretion of the City. The term of the MOU will remain in effect until June 30, 2023, unless earlier terminated by either party.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
None
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Proposed MOU (pgs. 3-14)
1.
Prepared by: Dani Cook, Acting Human Services Manager