DPH annual report highlights MPOX response, clinic reopenings; Laguna Honda�CMS recertification and census draw questions

Michelle Ko, a health program planner in DPH's Office of Policy and Planning, presented the departments FY2022-23 annual report and walked commissioners through features and data required by the city administrative code.

Ko highlighted DPHs response to the MPOX outbreak, noting that San Francisco administered more than 55,000 MPOX vaccine doses between May 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 and achieved one of the highest vaccination coverage rates in the country. She also summarized behavioral health investments: release of an overdose prevention plan, creation of an Office of Overdose Prevention, expansion of residential treatment and naloxone distribution (the presentation cited 135,000+ naloxone doses distributed and an additional 70 residential treatment step-down beds opened in the fiscal year).

"San Francisco became the first U.S. jurisdiction to announce a public health emergency for MPOX," Michelle Ko said, describing a community-centered vaccination effort that partnered with organizations serving Black, Latinx, trans and youth populations.

The report also noted reopening of three DPH clinics (Southeast Family Health Center, Castro Mission Health Center and the Maria X Martinez Resource Center) and provided utilization and demographic data used to show reach and equity impacts.

Director Grant Colfax gave a verbal update on several items in the written report and addressed Laguna Honda Hospital's CMS recertification effort. Colfax said Laguna Honda submitted plans of correction for its Medicare survey: fire/life safety corrections were submitted Jan. 13 and health monitoring corrections were submitted Jan. 17; CMS validation and final recertification remain pending.

Several public commenters pressed DPH for more detail about Laguna Honda's census, transfers and admissions. One remote caller noted a decline in census from 710 residents in October 2021 to 450 on Jan. 22, 2024 and asked where an outreach plan is for former residents. Dr. Teresa Palmer asked a series of specific operational questions: how many of the 48 residents awaiting safe discharge have been discharged, where placements were made, the expected timeframe for Medicare recertification, and whether DPH and CMS are negotiating over the plan of correction.

Colfax acknowledged public concern and said staff would follow up; commissioners asked staff to make relevant documents and memos available on the DPH website.

The commission received the report and moved on to committee updates and consent business.