Title
a. Authorize the Deputy Purchasing Agent for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) or his designee to execute an agreement with Freedom Medical Transportation for non-emergency medical transportation services at NMC for an amount not to exceed $150,000.00 with an agreement term retroactive to May 24, 2016 through May 23, 2021.
b. Authorize the Deputy Purchasing Agent for NMC or his designee to execute up to three (3) future amendments to the agreement which do not significantly alter the scope of work and do not cause an increase of more than ten percent (10%) ($15,000) of the original cost of the agreement.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the Board of Supervisors:
a. Authorize the Deputy Purchasing Agent for Natividad Medical Center (NMC) or his designee to execute an agreement with Freedom Medical Transportation for non-emergency medical transportation services at NMC for an amount not to exceed $150,000.00 with an agreement term retroactive to May 24, 2016 through May 23, 2021.
b. Authorize the Deputy Purchasing Agent for NMC or his designee to execute up to three (3) future amendments to the agreement which do not significantly alter the scope of work and do not cause an increase of more than ten percent (10%) ($15,000) of the original cost of the agreement.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Freedom Medical Transportation (Freedom Medical) is able to provide non-emergency medical transportation, via wheelchair or gurney, to Natividad Hospital patients who require this service and for whom this mode of transportation is appropriate. Primary use of this service is to transfer patients to other facilities including but not limited to Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF), other Acute Rehab Units (ARU), or patient’s residence. The availability of non-emergency medical transportation to Natividad will not only ensure that patients are discharged safely and appropriately, but will also prevent unnecessary extended hospital stays.
Freedom Medical provides non-emergency (non-BLS) gurney and wheelchair transportation that is not covered by Medicare or other payors. It should be noted that American Medical Response, or AMR, has an exclusive ambulance agreement with the County for emergency and non-emergency medical transport. Because of the exclusivity, Natividad would always call AMR for all transport, however, Natividad has learned over the past few years through trial and error that AMR’s agreement does not necessarily cover gurney-only or wheelchair-only transportation. Because AMR was not always able to respond to non-medical gurney or wheelchair transport requests, Natividad would have to call Freedom Medical as a back-up option. After communication with both the County EMS department and County Counsel’s office about setting up an agreement with Freedom Medical for this type of transport specifically, Natividad is now requesting approval to enter into an agreement with Freedom for non-medical gurney-only or wheelchair-only transportation. This agreement has a retroactive start date to accommodate several outstanding invoices for services that have accumulated in the past few years when AMR was unable to respond to calls for this type of transport.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed and approved this agreement as to legal form, and the Auditor-Controller has reviewed and approved as to payment provisions. The agreement has also been reviewed and approved by NMC’s Finance Committee on January 24, 2019 and by its Board of Trustees on February 1, 2019.
FINANCING:
The cost for this agreement is $150,000 of which $30,000 is included in the Fiscal Year 2019-20 Adopted Budget. Amounts for remaining years of the agreement will be included in those budgets as appropriate.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The services rendered in this agreement provide NMC with the additional support it needs to be able to provide reliable and quality patient care which improves the health and quality of life for patients and their families.
__Economic Development
__ Administration
X Health and Human Services
__ Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
Prepared by: Karen Friedrich, Case Management Director, 772-7497
Approved by: Gary R. Gray, DO, Chief Executive Officer, 783-2504
Attachments:
Freedom Medical Transportation Agreement
Attachments on file with the Clerk of the Board