Title
Approve and authorize the Director of Health to sign and execute Amendment No. 7 to Agreement No: A-11610 for a fifth one (1) year contract extension with American Medical Response - West (AMR) for the period of January 31, 2019 through January 31, 2020.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Approve and authorize the Director of Health to sign and execute Amendment No. 7 to Agreement No: A-11610 for a fifth one (1) year contract extension with American Medical Response - West (AMR) for the period of January 31, 2019 through January 31, 2020.
SUMMARY:
The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency is seeking Board of Supervisor approval to authorize the Director of Health - to sign and execute the fifth one (1) year ambulance contract extension with American Medical Response - West (AMR) for the period of January 31, 2019 through January 31, 2020, and amend the contract, in accordance with the recommendation received by the Emergency Medical Care Committee.
DISCUSSION:
On December 15, 2009 the Board approved and authorized the Director of Health to enter into a five (5) year agreement, effective January 30, 2010 with AMR, to provide Advance Life Support Ambulance Services that includes the option for five one-year additional extensions.
On November 5, 2013 the board received an oral report form Citygate Associates regarding ambulance system issues and options for improvement. AMR, in cooperation of the EMS Agency and EMS system stakeholders, have fully implemented recommendations developed from the Citygate report. Recommendations included modifying a response time zone, East Garrison, to reflect more responsive ambulance service, provide public outreach regarding the 'Fee Forgiveness' program which included information provided both on EMS Agency website and AMR's home website, provide Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) equipment to other county transport providers, allow an annual audit of all complaints and denied bills in the county by the EMS Agency which is conducted each August, provide annual reports (prepared by AMR) to the Emergency Medical Care Committee (EMCC) and Board done each January and be an active participant with EMS system stakeholders in developing further system refinements, an example is the current Unknown Injury Accident (UIA) pilot project occurring in the city of Salinas.
AMR submitted their fifth extension request on October 20, 2014 (Attachment A), pursuant to section 6.0 of agreement No. A-11610. Additionally, pursuant to section 17.2 of the agreement, a rate increase is to be requested by November 1 of each year. AMR will be requesting a rate increase for "Standby" services only in 2015.
The EMS Agency, with concurrence of the Emergency Medical Care Committee (EMCC), has determined under contract Section 6 "Renewal Provisions" (Attachment B) AMR has met and exceeded the minimum requirements under the provision of earning the fifth one (1) year contract extension in the following areas:
AMR:
· Has exceeded 90% contract response time compliance for each Priority each month of the last contract year.
· Is in compliance with clinical performance.
· Is in compliance with financial requirements.
· Has been able to limit response-time disparity by region of the county.
In addition, the EMS Agency is seeking to replace Exhibit B (Attachment D) to reflect a "Standby" service rate increase from $150 to $160 per hour. This rate increase of "Standby" services rate is the first rate increase for "Standby" services in the first 5 years of the contract.
The EMCC provided a final review of the contract extension request including the minimum requirements needed to earn an extension and contract amendment at its December 2014 meeting. The EMCC has recommended approval of the fifth extension to the contract amending the contract as proposed.
While this work is not directly in support of a Health Department strategic initiative, it is in support of one or more of the ten essential public health services, specifically: (6) Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety and (7) link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has approved this one year extension and contract amendment as to legal form. Amendment and attachments are on file with Clerk to the Board.
FINANCING:
This one year extension will have no impact to the County General Fund.
Prepared by: Kirk Schmitt, EMS Agency Director, 4964
Approved by: Ray Bullick, Director of Health, 4526
Attachments: A - AMR-West letter dated October 20, 2014 on file with Clerk of the Board
B - Contract Section 6. Renewal Provision on file with Clerk to the Board
C - Amendment No. 7 on file with Clerk to the Board
D - Exhibit B Monterey County Ambulance Rates
Cc: County Counsel