TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file an update on the Public Provider Ground Emergency Medical Transportation Intergovernmental Transfer Program administered by the State Department of Health Care Services. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) currently participates in the Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) and Ground Emergency Medical Transportation Quality Assurance Fee (GEMT QAF) programs administered by the State of California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). These programs provide additional funding to governmental entities that deliver GEMT services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The GEMT Program is a voluntary certified public expenditure program that pays the federal share of supplemental reimbursement payments based on uncompensated costs for Medi-Cal transports. The GEMT QAF program is a mandatory program in which DHCS imposes an annual GEMT QAF rate on each GEMT provider subject to QAF. The QAF collected is then used to increase reimbursement to GEMT providers by application of an add-on to the rate paid for Medi-Cal emergency medical transports.
The DHCS, in accordance with Assembly Bill 1705, has developed the Public Provider Ground Emergency Medical Transportation Intergovernmental Transfer (PP-GEMT IGT) Program to replace the existing GEMT and GEMT QAF Programs and increase reimbursement to emergency medical transports provided by eligible public GEMT providers. The voluntary IGT collected by participating providers will be used to provide an add-on increase to the Medi-Cal reimbursements for all eligible providers throughout the State. Under the PP-GEMT IGT Program the City would make an annual voluntary IGT payment paid quarterly) of $5,961,225 plus an administrative fee of $596,123 and would receive estimated additional revenue of $8,427,588, for estimated additional net revenue of $1,870,241.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Arturo D. Sanchez on December 13, 2022, and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on December 14, 2022.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
This update is provided to the City Council on January 17, 2023, as the first quarterly IGT payment is due to the State DHCS on January 15, 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will make quarterly payments to the State DHCS totaling $6,557,348 (including the administrative fee) in Calendar Year 2023 and receive additional revenue of $8,427,588. An appropriation increase will be submitted as part of the City’s first budget adjustment in February 2023. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
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Respectfully Submitted,
XAVIER ESPINO
FIRE CHIEF
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER