Title
Resolution Authorizing Agreement with Guilford County for Greensboro Transit Authority to Provide Medicaid Transportation Service within City of Greensboro
Body
Department: Transportation
Council District: Citywide
Public Hearing: N/A
Advertising Date/By: N/A
Contact 1 and Phone: Adam Fischer 373-2861
Contact 2 and Phone: Libby James 373-2820
PURPOSE:
The Guilford County Department of Social Services Administration and Transportation Division wishes to partner with the Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA) to provide non-emergency transportation service to medical facilities for eligible Medicaid recipients within the City of Greensboro, beginning May 11, 2015. An agreement with Guilford County must be authorized by City Council to provide this service.
BACKGROUND:
Prompted by the closing of Gate City Transportation, Guilford County Administration and Transportation Division contacted GTA staff about the critical need for non-emergency transportation service to medical facilities for eligible Medicaid recipients within the City of Greensboro. Many of these city residents have no access to transportation service to medical facilities. Staff has determined that GTA is able to provide this service.
If approved, GTA will enter into a five-year service and revenue contract with Guilford County for a specified level of service. A specific rate per trip will be negotiated and included in the contract that reflects GTA's fully allocated cost of service, including vehicle leases, operating and maintenance costs, and staffing and administrative costs. The rate for the remainder of FY 14-15 will be $36.53 per trip and the FY 16-17 rate will be $37.99 per trip. This rate may be renegotiated based on actual experience to ensure that all costs are being captured.
So as not to adversely impact the regulatory requirements for the City's ADA paratransit service, the proposed Medicaid Transportation Service (MTS) will be provided as a separate service with dedicated vehicles and staff. The staff recommendation to provide the proposed MTS assumes that the level of service needed and/or provided will not exceed the level of ADA paratransit service provided by GTA.
Guilford County will be solely responsible for the verification of Medicaid clients eligible for the proposed Medicaid transportation to be provided by GTA.
GTA's current contractor (Trans Dev) will be responsible for the day-to-day operations and will lease up to six (6) vehicles initially to provide the service. On or before, October 4, 2015, the vehicle fleet will be increased by (5) additional vehicles to be leased by Trans Dev to accommodate the demand and growth in passenger trips.
Trans Dev proposes to utilize 7.5 positions (1 coordinator, 1 part time customer service representative, and 6 operators) to operate the initial service. Beginning in October, 2015 five (5) additional operators will be hired. In addition, Trans Dev will seek to hire some of the former Gate City Transportation operators to meet the staffing needs. GTA's existing reservations, scheduling, dispatching and maintenance personnel will perform these functions for the proposed MTS.
All trips for MTS would originate and terminate within the City limits of Greensboro. The targeted start date for the five-year service and revenue contract is May 11, 2015 through June 30, 2019.
It should be noted that the Greensboro Transit Authority Board approved the subject Medicaid Transportation Service and Revenue Contract with Guilford County at its March 24, 2015 meeting.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The proposed Medicaid Transportation Service will be fully funded through the County's Medicaid Program funding and with no financial impact to the City of Greensboro or to GTA. All costs associated with the proposed MTS are 100% reimbursable to the City/GTA. The rate per trip is subject to annual adjustment based on the actual costs of the MTS provided.
The estimated five year total service and revenue costs are as follows:
Year 1: 5/11/2015 - 6/30/2015 6,125 Passenger Trips $223,750
Year 2: 7/01/2015 - 6/30/2016 76,750 Passenger trips $2,915,733
Year 3: 7/01/2016 - 6/30/2017 122,800 Passenger trips $4,851,828
Year 4: 7/01/2017 - 6/30/2018 122,800 Passenger trips $5,045,852
Year 5: 7/01/2018 - 6/30/2019 122,800 Passenger trips $5,247,244
The funds to support the proposed MTS will be budgeted under 564-4531-06.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
Staff recommends and requests approval to enter into agreement with Guilford County for the operation of the proposed Medicaid Transportation Service for Guilford County to be provided by the Greensboro Transit Authority for the period May 11, 2015 through June 30, 2019 and approval of the associated budget ordinance.