CFO: pharmacy rebates rise; mayor declines $440,000 request for first‑responder mental‑health staffing

Iftikhar Hussain, chief financial officer for the San Francisco Health Service System, presented the financial highlights through April at the June 9 meeting and identified two items of note for the board.

Hussain said pharmacy rebates surged in April and staff increased the annual rebate projection to $11,100,000, up from prior estimates. He also summarized trust‑fund movements tied to the system’s stabilization mechanism, which allocates prior balances to help reduce premiums.

Hussain told the board that the mayor’s office did not approve a request for roughly $440,000 in additional funding to expand first‑responder mental‑health services in the SFHSS budget. Director Abby Yant said she and staff have been in contact with impacted public‑safety departments; the police budget portion for its behavioral health unit remains intact, fire plans to seek an add‑back from the Board of Supervisors because the department’s MOU calls for such services, and the sheriff’s office is exploring pilot options that might be fundable next year.

Commissioners asked whether the Board of Supervisors could restore funding during budget hearings; staff said add‑backs are possible and that departments are pursuing those avenues. Several board members stressed the long‑standing need for first‑responder mental‑health supports and asked staff to continue advocacy and interagency coordination.

Hearing no callers during the public comment period for the item, the board closed discussion and moved on to subsequent agenda items.