To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Grant Colfax, Health Services Director
Report Title: Contract #77-477-4 with EZ Ride LLC
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to execute on behalf of the County Contract #77-477-4 with EZ Ride LLC, a limited liability company, in an amount not to exceed $900,000, to provide non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) and non-medical transportation (NMT) services for Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP) members and County recipients, for the period June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2029.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this Contract will result in contractual service expenditures of up to $900,000 over a three-year period and will be funded 100% by Hospital Enterprise Fund II revenues.
BACKGROUND:
CCHP has an obligation to provide certain NEMT and NMT services for its members under the terms of their Individual and Group Health Plan membership Contracts with the County. NEMT and NMT services provide transportation to and from covered Medi-Cal services for eligible members. These services also prioritize safety, accessibility, and comfort for passengers, with specially equipped vehicles. This Contractor has been part of the CCHP Provider Network providing NEMT and NMT services while fostering a deep understanding of the CCHP organizations mission, values, and long-term objectives since July 1, 2022.
This Contract is entered into under and subject to the following legal authorities: California Government Code §§ 26227 and 31000; Health and Safety Code § 1451. These NEMT and NMT services are mandated by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) under federal law, which requires Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan’s to cover transportation-related travel expenses as set forth in 42 CFR section 440.170 (a)(3)(iii). Health Services Personnel approved this Contract to ensure no conflicts with labor relations. Contractor currently cooperates with and participates in CCHP’s Quality Management Program which consists of quality improvement activities to improve the quality of care and services and member experience. Cooperation includes collection and evaluation of performance measurement data and participation in the organization’s clinical and service measure Quality Improvement Programs. The nature of the NEMT and NMT services needed is complex and requires seamless coordination, integration and collaboration with existing programs and systems. Per Administrative Bulletin 600.3, the Department has posted a continuous Request for Qualifications and maintains a current qualified list of vendors at all times.
On May 14, 2024, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #77-477-3 with EZ Ride LLC, in an amount not to exceed $800,000, for the provision of NEMT and NMT services for CCHP members and County recipients, for the period June 1, 2024 through May 31, 2026.
Approval of Contract #77-477-4 will allow the Contractor to continue to provide NEMT and NMT services for CCHP members and County recipients through May 31, 2029. This Contract delay was due to the negotiation of language between the Contractor and Division.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this Contract is not approved, Contractor will not provide NEMT and NMT services needed for CCHP members and County recipients which may place the County out of compliance with the DHCS.