Director highlights overdose roadmap and MPox progress; public presses LHH recertification and operational questions
October 04, 2022 | San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
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Director Grant Colfax briefed the Health Commission on Oct. 4 with multiple operational updates, including a new strategic roadmap aimed at reducing drug overdose deaths and progress on Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center's recertification preparations.
Colfax described the overdose roadmap's near‑term goals: reducing overdose deaths in San Francisco by 15 percent by 2025, reducing racial disparities in overdose deaths by 30 percent by 2025, and increasing the number of people receiving medications for addiction treatment by 30 percent by 2025. The plan calls for creating multiple wellness hubs, increasing access to medication, adding step‑down residential beds and doubling naloxone distribution.
He also highlighted that the San Francisco EMS Agency received a national award for innovation and reported that Laguna Honda had achieved neighborhood metrics that consultants said are needed for recertification readiness. Colfax acknowledged ongoing work toward CMS recertification and said quality improvement metrics showed many neighborhoods meeting thresholds.
On infectious disease, Colfax reported COVID case and hospitalization rates are declining and reiterated that San Francisco has a robust vaccine and booster program. On MPox, he said the city is past its peak and that the department has administered approximately 32,000 initial MPox vaccine doses, with a focus on vaccinating communities at higher risk, particularly Latino residents where uptake remains lower.
During the meeting, public commenter Patrick Menetshaw returned to press Laguna Honda questions he said had not been answered: the kitchen floor replacement timeline and budget, whether freezer replacements had been made (he alleged freezer breakdowns and rented freezer trucks), vendor selection for meal delivery during renovations, the status of mock surveys and CMS re‑enrollment forms, and what reimbursement source will cover Laguna Honda after Nov. 13. Colfax and staff acknowledged progress on recertification but did not provide all operational details during the public record; Menetshaw asked that the JCC address unresolved questions at its Oct. 11 meeting.
No new policy actions were taken on these items at this meeting; commissioners thanked staff and requested follow‑up, particularly on Laguna Honda recertification milestones and MPox vaccination outreach to Latino communities.
Colfax described the overdose roadmap's near‑term goals: reducing overdose deaths in San Francisco by 15 percent by 2025, reducing racial disparities in overdose deaths by 30 percent by 2025, and increasing the number of people receiving medications for addiction treatment by 30 percent by 2025. The plan calls for creating multiple wellness hubs, increasing access to medication, adding step‑down residential beds and doubling naloxone distribution.
He also highlighted that the San Francisco EMS Agency received a national award for innovation and reported that Laguna Honda had achieved neighborhood metrics that consultants said are needed for recertification readiness. Colfax acknowledged ongoing work toward CMS recertification and said quality improvement metrics showed many neighborhoods meeting thresholds.
On infectious disease, Colfax reported COVID case and hospitalization rates are declining and reiterated that San Francisco has a robust vaccine and booster program. On MPox, he said the city is past its peak and that the department has administered approximately 32,000 initial MPox vaccine doses, with a focus on vaccinating communities at higher risk, particularly Latino residents where uptake remains lower.
During the meeting, public commenter Patrick Menetshaw returned to press Laguna Honda questions he said had not been answered: the kitchen floor replacement timeline and budget, whether freezer replacements had been made (he alleged freezer breakdowns and rented freezer trucks), vendor selection for meal delivery during renovations, the status of mock surveys and CMS re‑enrollment forms, and what reimbursement source will cover Laguna Honda after Nov. 13. Colfax and staff acknowledged progress on recertification but did not provide all operational details during the public record; Menetshaw asked that the JCC address unresolved questions at its Oct. 11 meeting.
No new policy actions were taken on these items at this meeting; commissioners thanked staff and requested follow‑up, particularly on Laguna Honda recertification milestones and MPox vaccination outreach to Latino communities.
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