To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Grant Colfax, Health Services Director
Report Title: Transportation Vouchers for Adults/Disabled Persons Living in West County
☒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 700 single adult WestCAT General Public Day Pass tickets from Western Contra Costa Transit Authority each with a $3.50 value, for a total amount not to exceed $2,450 to provide transportation for patients living in West Contra Costa County to be able to make their appointments at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) and Contra Costa Health Centers.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This $2,450 expenditure will be funded by Hospital Enterprise Fund I. There is no impact to the County General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
Many patients are unable to obtain reliable transportation to and from appointments at CCRMC and Health Centers, often missing their appointments altogether. To ensure patients attend their appointments to receive necessary care and treatment, CCRMC has been providing non-emergent transportation in the form of WestCAT Day Passes. Providing these tickets prevents patients from missing appointments and reduces the number of missed appointments and financial loss to CCRMC and Health Centers. As a safety-net hospital, CCRMC often serves the most vulnerable population in Contra Costa County, many of whom do not have transportation of their own or the ability to pay for transportation. When a patient misses an appointment, they do not receive the care needed which affects their health.
The tickets are utilized by County patients that cannot afford to pay for their own transportation, and includes many patients discharged from Psychiatric Emergency Services, the hospital emergency department, inpatient discharges, and patients with appointments at all health centers. On average, CCRMC distributes anywhere from 700 WestCAT tickets in a fiscal year. The number of patients in need is consistently growing.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, it could have an impact on the health and well-being of vulnerable adults.