SFHSS director announces CFO departure, new hire; board discusses first‑responder behavioral health and audit plan

Executive Director Abby Ant opened the director's report by noting the ongoing Omicron wave and announcing personnel changes at the San Francisco Health Service System. "Our chief financial officer, Larry Lew, has accepted another position outside of our organization and will be leaving us; tomorrow is his last day," she said. Abby Ant introduced Iftikhar Hussain as Lew's successor, saying Hussain began work the prior week.

Larry Lew spoke briefly, thanking staff and board members for the opportunity to serve as chief financial officer. Hussain described his background on the provider side and expressed readiness to help "provide affordable care and good quality." Commissioners congratulated Lew and welcomed Hussain.

During public comment earlier in the meeting, Walter Rio Asencio, a retired San Francisco firefighter, asked to be placed on the February agenda to discuss contracting directly with the Center of Excellence, a licensed behavioral‑health facility that he said is building a West Coast site in Hemet and offers specialized treatment for firefighters and paramedics. "We are striving to get more culturally competent first‑responder‑friendly clinicians on board," Asencio said, asking staff to explore a contracting option.

Board members and staff said they have discussed substance use disorder and mental‑health services for public‑safety employees with health plan partners and stressed there are established procurement and collective‑bargaining processes to follow. Commissioner Zavansky urged the caller to work within bargaining channels and procurement rules while the board pledged to consider options that maximize access.

Director Ant also reviewed internal business items: Mitchell Griggs plans to retire next year and the agency is recruiting for chief operating officer; an RFP to support the DIVA audit failed to yield adequate vendor responses, so staff will consider a limited, internal audit this year while reissuing the RFP and aiming for a full external audit in 2023.

The board did not take formal action on contracting with external behavioral‑health providers during the meeting; staff said they would convene follow‑up meetings with the caller and health plan partners and will consider bringing options forward for discussion at a future meeting.