Title
Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Division, recommending the Board:
1) Approve the use of the attached Interfacility Transfer (IFT) and Critical Care Transfer (CCT) Permit Application/Agreement boilerplate, to allow the Emergency Medical Services Agency to tender permits to ambulance transportation contractors to provide IFT and CCT services in the non-exclusive areas of the County; and
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 058-2017, which delegates authority to the Health and Human Services Agency Director, or designee, to execute said Permit Application/Agreement, as appropriate.
FUNDING: Fee for service.
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION:
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), Public Health Division, recommending the Board approve and authorize the use of the attached boilerplate for Permit Application/Agreement for Interfacility Transfers (IFT) and Critical Care Transfers (CCT); and adopt attached Resolution authorizing the HHSA Director or designee to execute said Permit Application/Agreement as appropriate.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On February 26, 2013, the Board of Supervisors approved County Ordinance No. 4991, establishing exclusive operating areas, standards and requirements for emergency and non-emergency medical services including personnel and training, equipment and supplies, response times, communications and medical transportation in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 1797.200 et seq.
Under County Ordinance No. 4991, the Board also established County Service Area No. 3 - West Shore, as a non-exclusive area for all services; County Service Area No. 7 as a non-exclusive area for non-emergency Ambulance transports and Ambulance Interfacility Transports that originate in the County and terminate outside the County; and all areas in the County as non-exclusive for Air Ambulance and Rescue Aircraft services including Air Ambulance Interfacility Transports (IFT) and Critical Care Transports (CCT).
In addition, the County has established an application and permitting process for entities located outside the County, utilizing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel to provide IFT and CCT “as needed” ambulance transportation services at the Advanced Life Support (ALS) level. Entities located outside the County utilizing EMS personnel to provide IFT and CCT may do so after successfully completing an application and permitting process and entering into an agreement with the County for ALS services in areas of the County in which market rights are not exclusively assigned.
The attached boilerplate Permit Application/Agreement will allow entities wishing to provide IFT and CCT within non-exclusive areas of the County to engage with the EMS Agency to do so, in accordance with County Ordinance No. 4991.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to authorize the attached Permit Application/Agreement, the EMS Agency would be unable to tender permits to qualified ambulance transportation entities wishing to provide IFT and CCT in the non-exclusive areas of the County.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agenda item. The permitting process for IFT and CCT services is based on a fee for service methodology.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on attached Resolution, and provide two (2) signed copies to HHSA Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Road.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
County Strategic Plan - Goal #1 Public Safety: Protects the community, prevents crime, enforces the law, administers justice, provides rehabilitative services, and promptly responds to emergencies and calls for service.
CONTACT
Patricia Charles-Heathers, Ph.D., Director