DEPARTMENT: Department of Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Senior Medical Transportation Program
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes four budgetary actions related to the City's FY 2014 Senior Medical Transportation Program: acceptance of a continuation grant, from the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG), in the amount of $273,500.00, which includes $138,500.00 in Supportive Services for Elderly - Older Americans Act Funding and $135,000.00 in Federal Transit Administration New Freedom Grant Funding; a cash match of $13,850.00, included in the FY 2014 Adopted General Fund Budget; a program budget of $287,850.00, including $500.00 in client donations for senior transportation services, for the period October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014; and a personnel complement of 3 positions.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Department of Human Services (DHS) provides two essential door-to-door, chauffeured transit services for seniors, ages 60 years and older, regardless of disability, throughout Bexar County: Center Based transportation and Medical transportation. Center Based programming provides transportation services to DHS operated comprehensive senior centers and nutrition sites for seniors living within five miles of a senior center. Medical Transportation services are primarily for transportation to and from vital medical appointments, with approximately 50% of medical trips provided to seniors receiving kidney dialysis.
The Senior Medical Transportation program operates using Federal funds passed through the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services and the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG). Additionally, the City provides General Fund match to support the Senior Transportation Program. For FY 2014, AACOG has indicated that Older Americans Act (OAA) federal grant funds in the amount of $138,500 will be awarded to the city. This represents a significant reduction from the $251,126 received in FY 2013, which provided for 8,629 one-way medical trips for seniors. In Fiscal Year 2013, 449 unduplicated clients were served through the Medical Transportation Program.
ISSUE:
AACOG funds the City of San Antonio and two other community organizations (Presa Community Center and Somerset Senior Citizens Center) to support senior transportation services in San Antonio and Bexar County. In FY 2014, community-wide OAA funding for transportation services, awarded through ACCOG, was reduced from $435,126.00 to $349,000.00, which represents a 20% reduction. DHS's agency specific reduction was 45% of the prior year funding amount.
The $138,500.00 available due to reductions in OAA grant funds would not support the structure needed to operate the current model. To augment the FY 2014 reduction in OAA funding to DHS, AACOG identified $135,000.00 in Federal Transit Administration New Freedom (New Freedom) grant funds. These funds are only available to DHS in FY 2014. Additionally, use of New Freedom grant funds stipulate added restrictions which require funding be used solely to provide taxi vouchers. The reductions in OAA funding and these restrictions necessitate a program model transition from DHS provided transportation services to a taxi voucher reimbursement system.
If approved, DHS will utilize the City's existing Yellow Cab contract to provide taxi services. The ability to provide personalized one-way trips will increase the independence, confidentiality and control senior participants have in managing their own medical situations. Additionally, through the new program, caregivers and family members will be able to accompany senior participants to appointments.
Currently, the Senior Medical Transportation Program operates with a personnel complement of eight staff members. Through the transition in service delivery model, the personnel complement will be reduced to three positions. A total of 27 DHS positions, both full and part-time, are authorized to provide Senior transportation related services, three in the Medical Transportation and 24 in the Center Based Transportation.
Although the additional New Freedom funds are only available for FY 2014, DHS recommends shifting service delivery to the taxi voucher program to provide time over the next year for the City to work with AACOG and other providers to determine the best way to utilize OAA funds, and ensure quality and effective transportation services for the community. Under the new model, it is anticipated that approximately 5,116 one-way medical trips can be provided in FY 2014, a reduction of 3,513 trips.
Fiscal Year |
Older Americans Act |
New Freedom |
Total |
2012 |
$275,000 |
N/A |
$275,000 |
2013 |
$251,126 |
N/A |
$251,126 |
2014 |
$138,500 |
$135,000 |
$273,500 |
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of a continuation grant from AACOG in the amount of $273,500.00 and a total Senior Medical Transportation budget of $287,850.00. This budget includes $273,500.00 in grant funds, $13,850.00 in matching funds included in the FY 2014 Adopted General Fund Budget which meets the 10% match requirement for the OAA funds, and $500.00 in client donations for senior transportation services from October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014.
Accepting grant funds for the Senior Medical Transportation Program is consistent with City Council's direction to provide access to senior transportation services throughout the community.
ALTERNATIVES:
If awarded funds are not accepted, the City would cease to provide these services to the community. AACOG would need to identify an alternate contractor, which could result in an interruption of service delivery.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes four budgetary actions related to the City's FY 2013 Senior Medical Transportation Program: acceptance of a continuation grant, from the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG), in the amount of $273,500.00, which includes $138,500.00 in Supportive Services for Elderly - Older Americans Act Funding and $135,000.00 in Federal Transit Administration New Freedom Grant Funding; a cash match of $13,850.00, included in the FY 2014 Adopted General Fund Budget; a program budget of $287,850.00, including $500.00 in client donations for transportation services, for the period October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014; and a personnel complement of 3 positions.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing acceptance of AACOG grant funds and a DHS total program budget and personnel complement.