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Director highlights EHR talks with UC, sheltering during El NiF1o and Drug Medi-Cal expansion
Summary
Director Barbara Garcia reported Board of Supervisors authorization to negotiate with UC for a new electronic health record, described expanded temporary winter shelters and roving medical teams, and outlined how the 11-15 Drug Medi-Cal waiver will expand substance use disorder coverage and require close coordination with contracted community-based organizations.
Director Barbara Garcia told the commission that the Board of Supervisors voted to allow the department to negotiate with the University of California to procure a new electronic health record system. Garcia described a two-track implementation structure ' one team focused on technical implementation and a second on executive oversight and contract negotiations ' and said a backup vendor is specified in the ordinance if UC discussions do not proceed.
Garcia also reported increased sheltering during recent El NiF1o storms and highlighted the department's roving medical teams, which were featured in the Chronicle. "We've gotten pretty good about implementing these pretty quickly," Garcia said of temporary shelter activations.
On behavioral health, the commission heard that the state-approved 11-15 Drug Medi-Cal waiver will expand substance use disorder coverage under Medi-Cal and create requirements for enhanced services and accountability. Commissioner Penney's committee reported roughly 7,500 unduplicated clients receiving substance abuse services in the Health Network and about 3,800 patients on methadone; the commission requested a six-month drill-down to detail service types, spending and outcomes for those clients.
Commissioners asked whether the recent state "Tobacco 21" action would supersede San Francisco's local ordinance. Policy staff replied that the measures differ: the state language prohibits smoking under age 21 while the local law prohibits purchase by under-21s; staff committed to coordinating implementation depending on the governor's actions.
Director Garcia also noted a personnel transition in Environmental Health (Richard Lee leaving; Stephanie Cushing named director) and that the department completed step 3 of the Public Health Accreditation Board submission, triggering a mock survey and anticipated site review later in the year.
