To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Transportation Vouchers for Contra Costa Health Plan Members
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to purchase on behalf of the Health Services Director, up to 12,000 Central Contra Costa Transit Authority - County Connection LINK Paratransit tickets each with a $5 value totaling $60,000 and up to 13,000 East Bay Paratransit tickets each with a $4 value totaling $52,000, for a total purchase amount not to exceed $112,000 to provide transportation for members of the Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP).
FISCAL IMPACT:
This $112,000 expenditure will be funded by CCHP Enterprise Fund II. There is no impact to the County General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The California Department of Health Care Services provides non-emergency medical transportation and non-medical transportation services as a benefit to Medi-Cal Managed Care members under All Plan Letter (APL) 22-008, Non-Emergency Medical and Non-Medical Transportation Services and Related Travel Expenses. CCHP is a Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan and must provide Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) and Non-Medical Transportation (NMT) services to obtain medically necessary Medi-Cal services, including those not covered under the managed care plan contract. CCHP is contracted with 14 Non-Emergency Medical Transportation and 3 Non-Medical Transportation providers. Having contracted transportation providers does not ensure that CCHP members are able to receive the transportation services needed due to providers not having enough time to schedule the ride at the needed time, urgent appointments, and no available appointments.
The Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (County Connection) grants equal access to its transportation services in Central Contra Costa, including County Connection LINK Paratransit. County Connection LINK Paratransit is a shared-ride service for people who are unable to use regular buses and trains due to a disability or disabling health condition.
East Bay Paratransit is a public transit service for people who are unable to use the regular buses or trains because of a disability or health condition. Paratransit transports riders to their destinations in vans equipped with a wheelchair lift.
CCHP utilizes the services of the LINK Paratransit and East Bay Paratransit agencies to provide transportation for CCHP Medi-Cal members to/from their medical, dental, and behavioral health appointments. To ensure transportation services compliance and access to care, many CCHP members need transportation vouchers. Approval of this purchase will support members to access necessary health services and is a cost-saving option for CCHP instead of using the NEMT and NMT contracted providers at higher costs.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, transportation vouchers will not be available for CCHP members needing transportation services and CCHP would be non-compliant with the California Department of Health Care Services mandate (APL 22-008) in providing access to care.