[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6632656,"mediaKeyId","2671109-b9c7e64806c2eb79dd66bd10eadc4a5b","parentId",2671109,"title","New DPH director outlines street outreach, telehealth prescribing and mayoral directive to expand access to treatment","audioSeconds",516,"startMs",433000,"endMs",949000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2671109-b9c7e64806c2eb79dd66bd10eadc4a5b&start=433&end=949","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2671109-b9c7e64806c2eb79dd66bd10eadc4a5b/thumbnail_433000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6632656/San-Francisco-City/San-Francisco-County/California/New-DPH-director-outlines-street-outreach-telehealth-prescribing-and-mayoral-directive-to-expand-access-to-treatment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632656-11ab69257cf7b3cc3ee689bdfaf303ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180852&Signature=Rg45mo2NbQjzGdF~xOlaNqA93QU27-LAO2Wbbe0EAFYuHg6sWaVWeedEkdMwi6Pm~ZMw7PuuqGLrmBG-szEv0akQCkErxl6VbovEW8pJehgjadmW-PJGa1nUM2jEy4p3J~wt8Oet0XTzA85KZJF-3byxJ8te1y5prhPp~hbDOCvoGaPVwg4L7C111Ufhx8J3JIrgewOZMegp5l9Fx8o5eKXpHcRSJBSvizZwU64Ygqj~WVY2g4UG2bA9vWE4-7BvFDVvOVmzcuMluFLyglyc-rJqhqk7H~H4qhTAzMM8stan40E5vtL7BlhDOOjDdX0HWuuGE2snmgBaJJwVfqgjmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of San Francisco","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","Department of Public Health Director Mark Tsai used his director’s report on Monday to summarize observations from his first two weeks and to describe several operational efforts the department is pursuing, including street-team telehealth prescribing, efforts to make treatment pathways clearer and a mayoral executive directive with citywide implications.

Tsai said he had spent time with street navigation teams and night navigators and that the department has initiated an on-the-street telehealth prescribing program able to connect people directly to prescribers for buprenorphine initiation. \"We're able to get someone, even at all hours of the night, on the phone with a prescriber and able to, in that moment, prescribe buprenorphine to really lower the barriers to providing access to that really evidence based life saving potentially intervention,\" he said.

He described a recurring challenge that while clinicians can initiate treatment in the field, the harder task is helping people remain engaged after the first days: \"How we help someone when they're able to initiate treatment, actually continue to stay plugged in,\" Tsai said, noting the need for counseling, social work and other supports beyond initial prescribing.

Tsai also flagged a mayoral executive directive released the same morning calling for easier entry into treatment, expanded appropriate bed capacity, and a recommitment to longstanding harm-reduction interventions (including sterile syringe access) paired with more intentional referral into treatment. He told the commission the department would work with community partners and city agencies over the next one-to-two weeks to determine policy implications and operational steps.

Commissioners responded with support and questions about monitoring and integration. Commissioner Christian praised the department’s street-based work and asked for regular updates; Commissioner Chao asked whether street teams have a sense of which interventions generate the most enthusiasm among people they meet. Tsai and commissioners discussed coordination with hospitals and shelter systems in the city to facilitate step-down connections and discharge options for people engaged on the street.

No formal commission action was taken on the director’s report, but commissioners asked for frequent updates and asked staff to brief the commission on how DPH plans to track engagement beyond initiation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of San Francisco - Video Open Video Only in Windows Media Player - Mar 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Department of Public Health Director Mark Tsai described street-team telehealth prescribing pilots, efforts to streamline pathways into treatment and a mayoral executive directive emphasizing access to treatment, beds and connections to syringe services during his first weeks on the job.","taxTitle","San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California","taxId",5751,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6632661,"Votes at a glance: minutes, chief of psychiatry appointment and consent calendar approved",8959,92000,9051000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2671109-b9c7e64806c2eb79dd66bd10eadc4a5b&start=92&end=9051","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2671109-b9c7e64806c2eb79dd66bd10eadc4a5b/thumbnail_92000.jpg","/articles/6632661/San-Francisco-City/San-Francisco-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-minutes-chief-of-psychiatry-appointment-and-consent-calendar-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632661-0f11508863de71123cf9756b4ad24581/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180852&Signature=FuG-pNRkaOYdwWCu9IUvsKHHs70RODz6t-0DHo46~hZ-I5wBRcwwcqhq3QTvlJqQJhzq2I6y5j9gIMHlfm-Bu8ooUsyvBYgrGwbD1rf-mSrgx3cVHpVjTEFEfkqHWzMu07lhC5-in4WeK9WswSJJT1UJhcFOE0mR0WgW1b7OsX09m7AuSeiNJazUp7M~iEhsDxpXgA9Q8Dyw-tdLmzpbj4l4jTXHhmP2m8rHNNU0zwM5K2E1d~N0WSNr8P3cM~rFzPDrWUbSJoTh4QU~SZjwE-2xuBp8zAUzt69UKetbz3PLPZ3hd7PaSYfpw7DER5jn2OO5rkzJVn2IbsDJlhr8nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Francisco Health Commission recorded three formal actions during Monday’s meeting:

- Approval of minutes. The commission voted to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2025 Health Commission meeting after a motion, a second and a voice vote; the minutes were approved by voice vote.

- Appointment of chief of psychiatry at Zuckerberg San Francisco General. The commission approved the appointment of Dr. Fumi Mitsueishi (presented by Dr. Mary Mercer, Chief of Staff at ZSFG) to serve as chief of psychiatry. Commissioners moved and seconded the appointment and approved it by voice vote.

- Approval of Laguna Honda consent calendar. The commission approved several Laguna Honda policies and procedures recommended by the Joint Conference Committee as part of the consent calendar; the consent calendar was approved by voice vote.

Votes were recorded by voice; no roll-call tallies were provided in the public record for these specific items.","The Health Commission approved the March 3, 2025 minutes, appointed the new chief of psychiatry for Zuckerberg San Francisco General and approved Laguna Honda policies on the consent calendar in voice votes during the March 17 meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6632666,"Laguna Honda leaders and public press for action as 120‑bed waiver and admissions remain central concerns",210,9556000,9766000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2671109-b9c7e64806c2eb79dd66bd10eadc4a5b&start=9556&end=9766","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2671109-b9c7e64806c2eb79dd66bd10eadc4a5b/thumbnail_9556000.jpg","/articles/6632666/San-Francisco-City/San-Francisco-County/California/Laguna-Honda-leaders-and-public-press-for-action-as-120bed-waiver-and-admissions-remain-central-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632666-9849d036a7e8dd239e95fad540a9139d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180852&Signature=ntPTkFHa3srbcxZiKIyJpN1oUFGuI7GDjvgym4R~kAH9pABklgaT0nN5WgJuKyDEOVdYYEfXoFt86-4eQoHfCeUUhAm4fNycCuBySGkYcM88vYA50tCev4H39QxGjiAm5luCurNwglXmAo0ZkilrV3AopjzHW5xXo1eVZo4xKdUaApQr7cWvLff7J5Mp~cPkSKtsJUGcsvWaznmHgYWRaql4r7kYhDghFO4o9xaSJJXN9f8vf31hx7bY9c18KZFHzHVE16BwabPab808U7sI19g47OO6b5SdZWnCbtixCHrKOVq1awuW5VSwh7KyseDGIeZruQyTXALJIZyPjeqaLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Laguna Honda Hospital Joint Conference Committee (JCC) and public speakers pressed city officials Monday for stronger, expedited action to secure a waiver for 120 skilled‑nursing beds and to accelerate admissions after the hospital’s Medicare recertification.

Commissioners at the JCC reported that admissions processing times have shortened substantially from several weeks to only a few days, and they described ongoing work to obtain a federal waiver allowing certification of 120 previously idled beds. The committee noted the waiver process is complex and that DPH and Laguna Honda leaders will continue to work with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and California Department of Public Health, aided by the City Attorney’s office, to make the case for restoring the beds.

Public commenters urged more urgent city-level action. A commenter who identified himself as a long-time advocate said that the 120-bed waiver represents roughly 15.6% of Laguna Honda’s skilled-nursing capacity and warned of patient displacement to out-of-county facilities if the beds are lost. He also criticized recent admission trends, citing an item in Laguna Honda’s materials that reported 104 admissions since July 2024 but also described offsetting losses (discharges, deaths and AWOLs) that produced a modest net census increase; the commenter asked for clearer monthly census math and more rapid admissions to offset attrition.

Another remote commenter, a former Laguna Honda clinician, asked the commission to insist on regular updates about the 120-bed waiver status at each commission meeting and to seek assistance from state elected officials. JCC materials shared in open session summarized executive, human resources and regulatory reports; in closed session the committee approved credentials and personnel minutes and discussed an organizational assessment with outside consultants.

Laguna Honda leadership and course-correcting measures were described as priorities: the JCC emphasized filling vacant beds safely and restoring census while continuing the CMS waiver effort. The commission did not act on a policy change Monday but approved consent items from Laguna Honda later in the meeting as part of the regular consent calendar.

Speakers urged that the director and mayor use their influence to secure the waiver, and commissioners said DPH staff would continue to press federal and state partners for approval and to supply more frequent, transparent admission and end‑of‑month census reporting.

No formal waiver decision was made at the meeting; the item remains an ongoing operational priority for Laguna Honda, DPH and the City Attorney’s office.","Joint Conference Committee members updated the commission on efforts to restore full skilled‑nursing bed capacity at Laguna Honda, while public commenters urged Mayor and DPH intervention to secure a CMS waiver for 120 beds and called for regular admission and census reporting.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6632671,"UCSF reports investments and operational steps six months after acquiring St. Mary’s and St. Francis",2088,5568000,7656000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2671109-b9c7e64806c2eb79dd66bd10eadc4a5b&start=5568&end=7656","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2671109-b9c7e64806c2eb79dd66bd10eadc4a5b/thumbnail_5568000.jpg","/articles/6632671/San-Francisco-City/San-Francisco-County/California/UCSF-reports-investments-and-operational-steps-six-months-after-acquiring-St-Marys-and-St-Francis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632671-3f6a9cd2843f74e0554838a4c0601514/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180852&Signature=bjsXVPNGz~bRf8JNMCpXC6mVFYMaFzAxWjUfUSNU~tJVIoqKtkGpGWbZPl9DQSkRWP7~3x~VnjuaCc0IjTGiG2ghHhvG6lK0cWBfr9ftpyB8Ckuar37rEcMhWCIUZ1hLQuZH6O0nxf0m09DOtX0k9HEAl4Zv3w5XfgBi8OPWEqpf8qvnA4KlKiBZf9Q0UQPKkUKjwwQ~XjS6OZ0uAVs-nSM78lCYy1~oJAHf6DkCh2djFknJ~AOo3I1sVOgylf~dpMglBbA6I8D1wZanVCC6iZZv3JVkOzLHIJgfN2z1pEDrtP~5B-meIZi0JQ9y-mpJnL9VJt2knGJCH1-hlSIm3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","UCSF Health on Monday provided the Health Commission its first six-month update after acquiring St. Mary’s and St. Francis hospitals and associated clinics from Dignity Health, reporting immediate capital investments, an electronic medical record migration and commitments to maintain access for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and behavioral health patients.

In a public briefing, UCSF and Department of Public Health staff said the acquisition closed on Aug. 1, 2024, following a cooperative settlement with the California Attorney General. UCSF’s update described significant deferred maintenance discovered after the closing and an operating loss of more than $50 million across the two community hospitals since the acquisition. UCSF said it has already invested more than $20 million in core facilities and equipment and more than $40 million in IT infrastructure, including a planned transition to UCSF’s Epic electronic medical record system in October 2025.

“Improving the infrastructure and investing in support needed to expand and enhance patient care that is already there,” Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer Josh Adler told commissioners, adding UCSF would apply system clinical practices and expand subspecialty consult availability to support hospital-medicine services.

UCSF said it is working to increase inpatient census and throughput: the health system plans to expand hospital medicine services and open additional units that it said could create capacity for as many as 75 additional patients per day at St. Mary’s. The update also said UCSF has strengthened pediatric specialty care at St. Francis and is pursuing state Prop 1 funding in partnership with DPH to expand behavioral-health services on the St. Francis campus.

On governance and workforce, UCSF said the two hospitals are now owned by a nonprofit subsidiary, UCSF Health Community Hospitals, which maintains separate hospital licenses and a separate fiduciary board. Employees of St. Francis and St. Mary’s became UCSF employees and remain covered under existing collective bargaining agreements; UCSF said it honored the acquisition pledge that no layoffs would result from the transaction and that medical staffs at the two hospitals remain open models.

Commissioners asked how operating losses would be reduced and whether federal or state funding changes could affect planned services. UCSF said facility repairs, the Epic integration and clinical growth would be part of the plan to reduce losses; it noted that loss of federal research funding would not directly affect clinical services, but warned that a broader reduction in Medicare or Medicaid funding would have nationwide implications.

UCSF provided some lease details for associated outpatient facilities: the Cresthaven (Crestwood) lease expires in April 2028; the Kentfield lease expires in February 2026. UCSF said it is not planning to consolidate major services at this stage and that service-consolidation decisions would be considered only if volume and quality analyses suggested it was appropriate.

Department of Public Health Director Mark Tsai thanked UCSF for collaboration on behavioral-health planning and said DPH expected the St. Mary’s and St. Francis footprint to help address city needs for locked and subacute behavioral-health beds if state Prop 1 funding is secured.

No formal action was taken by the commission; UCSF and DPH agreed to return with additional utilization and workforce data after a full year post-acquisition to permit pre/post comparisons once records and systems are fully integrated.","UCSF Health told the San Francisco Health Commission it is investing in facilities, IT and staffing at the two community hospitals it acquired from Dignity Health, and said it remains committed to Medi‑Cal and behavioral health services while noting higher-than-expected deferred maintenance and early operating losses.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6632676,"City and Mercy Housing advance senior affordable housing plan at Laguna Honda campus",2051,1412000,3463000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2671109-b9c7e64806c2eb79dd66bd10eadc4a5b&start=1412&end=3463","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2671109-b9c7e64806c2eb79dd66bd10eadc4a5b/thumbnail_1412000.jpg","/articles/6632676/San-Francisco-City/San-Francisco-County/California/City-and-Mercy-Housing-advance-senior-affordable-housing-plan-at-Laguna-Honda-campus","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632676-34d68de5f36fe0989fc657c1a8c3c261/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180852&Signature=Rsu7DN0waOXU7haBJbpDLhKEDXct4FUYASIUw4aFPkmshcCRG793auariU7fjuTiiNeOe91Y98mtC02p7JpjBhjbtBLeDO-dbphSx9AjPXhGTjqr~c9Wnx7quF0q6V9LHiDMQEPVYbKnt704ks-dnqJ1ON8CyosT3FoH8tA0ZHt3gGsiEh4ZHy2O66ep7ffkmy3l8H5Xbvx6eYnyyJ6PWvCVJn~E0-Y9Js4SoCInuBImmQzO9dR~Ly8fmrYHbt1BdHD0VUFyJdvvPZ6roCdEmG--v38FEDTDQEiaVfdn0OfLr6BKm~F~vsfXsao~Be4Gk0IithCoUFtRllRlc5mazQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","San Francisco officials and Mercy Housing California on Monday presented a two-phase proposal to build 100 percent affordable senior housing and on-site child care at the Laguna Honda Hospital campus, describing a path intended to add independent-living units in a first phase and enhanced-services units with an adult day health center in a later phase.

The Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and Mercy Housing said Phase 1 would include independent-living senior rental housing targeted to households at a maximum of 55% of area median income (the presenters said that is roughly $65,000 annually for a two-person household) and an Early Childhood Education Center. Phase 2 is described as supportive “enhanced services” housing with an adult day health center; Mercy and MOHCD said additional coordination with the Department of Public Health will be required to finalize service elements and financing for Phase 2.

Project backers said the idea traces to prior bond commitments and city planning dating back decades, and that a $50 million set-aside for senior housing was included in Proposition A, the 2019 general-obligation affordable housing bond. Mercy Housing received a $3 million predevelopment loan in 2020 and restarted planning after Laguna Honda regained Medicare/Medicaid certification in 2024. Mercy and the mayor’s office described a preliminary schedule that would advance site entitlements through 2025, seek financing and ground-lease options in 2026, and — if financing applications succeed — begin Phase 1 construction as early as 2027 with completion in 2029; Phase 2 would follow and is expected to start after Phase 1.

Speakers and supporters framed the project as a way to expand the city’s continuum of care near Laguna Honda, add childcare that could help recruit and retain hospital staff, and provide housing options for seniors stepping down from higher levels of care. “Adding child care at Laguna Honda Hospital was part of the original vision,” said former City Attorney Louise Renne, who also recounted the history of earlier bond efforts and environmental reviews that envisioned assisted-living and intergenerational programming.

Presenters described a massing concept showing Phase 1 with roughly 124 one-bedroom independent-living units and Phase 2 with about 90 studio units for enhanced services; Mercy’s presentation repeatedly stressed these figures are preliminary. Mercy and MOHCD recommended planning Phase 2 as an enhanced-services affordable rental model rather than a licensed Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), citing uncertainty about a financing path for an affordable, licensed assisted-living model.

Commissioners and members of the public pressed for more detail on several points: which income tiers would receive units set to be subsidized so residents could pay 30% of income; how many units would be permanently reserved for Laguna Honda referrals or discharged patients; what the admission and eligibility rules would be for both the housing and the proposed child-care center; and whether Phase 2’s enhanced-services model would be delayed or jeopardized if federal financing programs change. Commissioner Chao asked for clarity on access and on how the child-care entrance and circulation would work given the campus topography.

Several community providers and union representatives spoke in favor of the project. Stepping Stone Health and Catholic Charities described operational experience running adult day health in Mercy Housing communities and urged the commission to support the continuum-of-care approach. SEIU Local 1021 urged prioritizing Laguna Honda workers for childcare slots and pushed the commission not to let the project stall, warning that staffing shortages worsen when workers lack affordable childcare and housing.

Speakers also raised concerns. Remote commenters and at least one in-person speaker asked that the bulk of units be affordable to the lowest-income seniors (including those living on Social Security or disability), and one public commenter alleged prior “bait-and-switch” changes in unit counts and program type across planning iterations. Mercy representatives and MOHCD officials said they would restart neighborhood outreach, had formed a Neighborhood Advisory Committee, and planned an enhanced-services working group beginning in April 2025 to define service elements for Medi-Cal-eligible residents.

The presenters described key legal and administrative steps ahead, including a non-binding term sheet (in the meeting packet appendix), a predevelopment memorandum of understanding to define roles, and an option to ground lease in 2026 to demonstrate site control for financing applications. Presenters said MOHCD would oversee predevelopment loans, construction compliance and operational restrictions tied to affordability covenants through a long-term ground lease.

If financing paths change — for example if HUD Section 202 senior housing financing were no longer available — presenters said Phase 2 could still be feasible using competitive affordable-housing financing, though with potential delays.

The commission did not take formal action on the housing plan at Monday’s meeting; commissioners asked for a follow-up briefing with clearer eligibility criteria, clarified service definitions for Phase 2, and more detail on how childcare will be prioritized for Laguna Honda staff and for the surrounding neighborhood.

Looking ahead, Mercy, MOHCD and DPH said they will continue coordinated planning and outreach, refine the term sheet and ground-lease structure, and return to the commission with more complete financing and eligibility details as they become available.","Officials and developers presented a two-phase plan for senior affordable housing and on-site child care at the Laguna Honda Hospital campus, outlining proposed unit counts, financing history and a preliminary schedule while commissioners and community members raised questions about eligibility, financing and timing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

New DPH director outlines street outreach, telehealth prescribing and mayoral directive to expand access to treatment

Votes at a glance: minutes, chief of psychiatry appointment and consent calendar approved

Laguna Honda leaders and public press for action as 120‑bed waiver and admissions remain central concerns

UCSF reports investments and operational steps six months after acquiring St. Mary’s and St. Francis

City and Mercy Housing advance senior affordable housing plan at Laguna Honda campus