Council

The HIV Health Service Planning Council determines what services are needed and which populations need care. Next, it decides which service categories to fund in the Transitional Grant Area (TGA) and decides how much Ryan White Part A money should be used for each of these service categories. The planning council works with the grantee to develop a long-term plan on how to provide these services. The planning council also looks for ways that Part A services work with other Ryan White programs through the Statewide Coordinated Statement of Need (SCSN) to fill gaps in care, as well as other services like Medicaid and Medicare. The planning council also evaluates how efficiently providers are selected and paid and how well their contracts are monitored. All this work is done at the committee level, then voted on and enacted by the Planning Council.

Committees

In order to complete all the necessary work which must be performed, the HIV Health Services Planning Council consists of the following committees:

Affected Communities Committee (ACC)

AAC was formed at the behest of those infected and affected by HIV, in order to provide a forum in which issues pertinent to those directly impacted could be addressed. The ACC is the formal structure within the Council; additionally, the ACC serves as the convening body for a consumer caucus. The caucus is a larger, more informal body designed to provide opportunities for anyone affected to be involved and present ideas and suggestions. ACC members may be from the general public, as well as from the Council, but must be infected or impacted by the disease.

Administrative Assessment Committee (AdAC)

AdAC was established to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the administrative mechanisms for rapidly disbursing Ryan White CARE Act funds to the areas of greatest need within the transitional grant area (TGA). The AdAC will conduct an annual assessment of the Fiscal/Administrative mechanisms with the intent of providing feedback and recommendations to the Council and to the Recipient to continually improve such administrative policies and procedures.

Executive Committee (Exec)

Exec is the only standing committee specified in the by laws of the HIV Health Services Planning Council (Council). The purpose of the Executive Committee is to “act for the Council between meetings under parameters set by the Council and to provide guidance for the Council in fulfilling its responsibilities and reaching its goals.” (Council Bylaws, as amended October 1998). The functions of the Executive Committee are also described in the bylaws. The chairs of all other standing committees are members of the Executive Committee. Other committee members are Council members appointed to represent specific required categories (such as Placer and El Dorado counties).

Governance Committee (Gov)

Governance Committee was created to deal with policy, procedure, and bylaws modifications. It was initially formed to recommend a governance structure but now handles various Council functioning matters, such as conflict of interest policies, committee operations, member absences, and necessary bylaw changes. The committee’s work is reviewed in different settings and forwarded to the full Council for approval and implementation. Members are usually Council members with interest in the topics.

Needs Assessment Committee (NAC)

NAC reassesses and updates the TGA’s Needs Assessment. It gathers data, information, and opinions from various sources to identify crucial service categories for people with HIV. Recommendations are given to the Council and PAC to prioritize and allocate funds for the upcoming period. Members are recruited based on expertise (e.g., technology, research), consumer input, and key service category providers.

Priorities and Allocations Committee (PAC)

PAC performs some of the most vital work for the Council. The primary responsibilities of the PAC are to review information, data and the updated Needs Assessment, in order to establish funding priorities and service allocations for the upcoming fiscal year. The work of the committee, when accepted by the Council, serves as the directive for issuance of proposal requests and determination of contractors to provide services throughout the TGA, tasks that are competed by the Fiscal Agent. Membership on PAC must be balanced to represent consumers, providers, government agencies and other diversity factors specified within PAC and general committee policies.

Quality Advisory Committee (QAC)

QAC develops quality assurance plans and standards to be utilized by providers when delivering services paid for through Ryan White funds. Such standards may include policies, procedures, guidelines, and other information pertinent to the effectiveness and efficiency in which consumers are treated and Ryan White funding is spent. To ensure that standards are appropriate for all stakeholders, members are drawn from consumers and providers of Ryan White services, as well as others interested in the delivery of health and human services.