CITY OF TALLAHASSEE
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED ON: June 10, 2009
SUBJECT/TITLE: Approval of Medicaid Waiver Services Agreement with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities
TARGET ISSUE: N/A
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
StarMetro is requesting approval to execute the Medicaid Waiver Services Agreement, a three-year agreement with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. StarMetro as the Leon County Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) is responsible for transporting the Medicaid Waiver riders in this area. This agreement allows StarMetro to continue to coordinate transportation services for these citizens.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Option 1 - approval of the Medicaid Waiver Service Agreement and execution of all documents.
FISCAL IMPACT
This agreement provides funding from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to cover transportation costs for these riders. Funding reimbursement is accomplished through monthly billing and no matching City funds are required.
This item has been reviewed by the Budget Office, Procurement Office and City Attorney’s Office and it meets City guidelines.
Ronald L. Garrison, Executive Director, StarMetro
Anita Favors Thompson, City Manager
For information, please contact: Donna Peacock, Paratransit Operations, 891-5196
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL/ISSUE ANALYSIS
HISTORY/FACTS & ISSUES
Since February of 2002, the City of Tallahassee provides citizens of Leon County with transportation services under the State of Florida Transportation Disadvantaged program. Chapter 427.11 Florida Statutes and Rule 41-2 Florida Administrative Code requires all Florida counties to provide such services for the transportation disadvantaged. Florida residents are considered transportation disadvantaged if they are physically, mentally, or economically unable to provide their own transportation.
Trips provided to the transportation disadvantaged population in Leon County are categorized as sponsored and non-sponsored. A sponsored trip is funded by other sources, usually a state or social service agency, such as Medicaid, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities or Vocational Rehabilitation. Non-sponsored trips are those trips paid for by funding direct from grant and local sources such as the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, Florida Department of Transportation and Leon County.
As mentioned above, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) is one of the agencies currently purchasing transportation through the coordinated transportation system for Leon County. Transportation for the APD program generates approximately 43% (36,451 trips) of the total Community Transportation Program trips totaling approximately $431,742 per year, which covers the cost of this service. Sessaly Rose Transit is the current carrier providing transportation services for these citizens on a daily basis.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
This is not applicable since funding from this program is provided by another governmental agency.
OPTIONS
1. Approval of the Medicaid Waiver Service Agreement and execution of all documents.
Pros: StarMetro will continue to coordinate the transportation needs for the Medicaid Waiver riders in Leon County.
Cons: The Agency for Persons with Disabilities would immediately need to solicit for transportation carriers to provide services for their clients.
2. Do not approve agreement and provide staff additional direction.
Pros: StarMetro would no longer be responsible for coordination of transportation for APD clients.
Cons: The Medicaid Waiver program would no longer be a part of the coordinated transportation system for Leon County.
ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES