City Councilor Belinda Ray
  • About
  • Blog
  • Endorsements
  • Contact

India Street Update: What Happens if the City Council Approves the Budget Next Week?

5/10/2016

 
On May 16, 2016, the Portland City Council will take a vote on the Fiscal Year 2017 budget, which includes a proposal to shift the city-directed healthcare programs currently operated by the India Street Public Health Center to the management of the Portland Community Health Center (PCHC). Here's a quick rundown of what will happen if the budget passes.
Over time, the programs currently managed by the India Street Public Health Center will be administered instead by PCHC. There are different timelines for different programs, and while some programs will move, some programs will likely remain at India Street indefinitely.

I say “likely” because an amendment I have been working on with the City Manager will need to receive the Council’s approval next week in order for this to be the case. I anticipate it that it will pass handily as I believe it has full Council support, but I don’t want to present it as a done deal until the vote is taken.

​
If the amendment that the City Manager and I are putting together passes, both the Needle Exchange and STD/HIV testing will remain at 103 India Street indefinitely. Additionally, although it is not a city program, the Portland Community Free Clinic—which is a 501(c)3 with an independent board—would also be offered space at 103 India Street.

For many years now, the Free Clinic (again—not a city run program) has benefitted from free rent and electricity by co-locating with the India Street Public Health Center. This amendment would continue that arrangement.

The HIV Positive Health Care program would not remain at 103 India Street. It would be moved to the PCHC by December 31, 2016. Between now and then, staff at India Street and PCHC would work together to make sure that all patients understand their options and are provided with clear transition plans.

Of course, patients ultimately have a choice as to whether they transition their care to PCHC or another healthcare facility, and it will be up to them to exercise that choice. City staff will, however, work to make sure that all patients have discharge plans in place and that they are assisted however necessary in order to ensure continuing care.

Additionally, in an effort to ensure that patients’ concerns are heard and addressed throughout this process, Councilor Justin Costa will be proposing an amendment that would add patients from both India Street PHC and PCHC to the transition team that will work over the coming months to plan and implement a thoughtful process.

Transition planning to this point has been limited because until a vote is taken, there are many details that cannot be worked out. If the budget passes next week and the transition is approved, the transition team will be able to begin planning more robustly.

There's some good information about the pieces of the plan that have been worked out to date in the Council's Agenda Center. Click on the download for the May 9, 2016 workshop and download the packet to see them. 

Comments are closed.
    Sign up for my
    quarterly newsletter
    ​to receive regular Council updates. 

    Topics

    All
    Budget
    Campaign Finance
    Cave/Caveat
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Elections
    Fort Sumner
    Housing
    India Street
    Local Business
    Paid Sick Leave
    Parking
    Police
    Public Comment
    Recycling
    School Funding
    School Renovations
    Shelter/Homelessness
    Transit/Transportation
    User Engagement Sites
    Wastewater Treatment
    Waterfront Concerts
    Zoning/Land Use

    Archives

    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    November 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016

    RSS Feed

This website has been paid for and authorized by the candidate.
Home      Endorsements/Testimonials     Contact