To: Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Bryan Cleaver, 332-2775; Jen Banks, 217-7914
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Emergency Medical Services Air Ambulance Agreement
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Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
Authorize the Director of Health Services to execute an agreement with REACH Air Medical Holdings, LLC to accept revenue for providing Emergency Medical Services Air Ambulance regulatory oversight for the period January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2027.
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Executive Summary:
The Department requests approval of a revenue agreement through which Coastal Valleys Emergency Medical Services Agency will provide regulatory oversight of REACH Air Medical Holdings, LLC, operator of a local emergency medical services air ambulance, for compliance with emergency medical services laws for the period January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2027. Coastal Valleys Emergency Medical Services Agency also performs ongoing evaluation and monitoring of quality improvement of the air ambulance provider through this agreement.
Discussion:
State law sets forth the County of Sonoma emergency medical services agency as the responsible entity for oversight and regulation of the local emergency medical services system. In Sonoma County, the Department of Health Services has been designated as the local emergency medical services agency and administers the emergency medical services system as the Coastal Valleys Emergency Medical Services Agency (Coastal Valleys). Coastal Valleys also acts as the local emergency medical services agency for Mendocino County through an agreement for emergency medical services administrative services with the County of Sonoma. Coastal Valleys regulates the emergency medical services system by evaluating the adequacy of services, monitoring services against performance standards, and reviewing quality improvement activities conducted by providers.
Through the proposed agreement, Coastal Valleys will provide regulatory oversight of REACH Air Medical Holdings, operator of a local emergency medical services air ambulance, for compliance with emergency medical services laws. Coastal Valleys will also perform ongoing evaluation and monitoring of quality improvement of the air ambulance provider through the agreement. First year revenue from the agreement is $25,000 with future year revenue based on first year revenue with adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index. Agreement revenue amounts have been established to fully cover the County’s cost of providing services.
The proposed agreement with REACH Air Medical Holdings will have an initial term of five years, from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2023. At the end of the initial term, providing that REACH has satisfactorily performed all obligations of the agreement, the Department shall have the option to extend the agreement for an additional four years, through December 31, 2027.
Emergency Medical Services Air Ambulance Providers (Regional)
The primary role of emergency medical services air ambulance providers is to provide both urgent and emergent care and transportation of the ill and injured within the regional emergency medical services system. REACH Air Medical Holdings’ obligations under the agreement include:
1. Provide Advanced Life Support air ambulance service within the regional geographic area.
2. Participate in Coastal Valleys’ quality improvement program and committees.
3. Provide timely data to Coastal Valleys on an ongoing basis.
4. Comply with all applicable Coastal Valleys policies and procedures in the provision of patient care and transportation.
5. Maintain status of all aircraft covered under the agreement in an electronic resource tracking system.
Previous agreements with emergency medical services air ambulance providers REACH Air Medical Services and California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR), were approved by the Board in May 2010. These agreements had an initial term of four years, with an option to extend for an additional four years based on satisfactory performance. In 2016 REACH and California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR) merged under REACH Air Medical Holdings, LLC.
Prior Board Actions:
On May 11, 2010 the Board approved Emergency Medical Services Air Ambulance Agreements with REACH ($125,000) and CALSTAR ($125,000) that will reimburse the Department for reasonable cost of oversight and ongoing evaluation and monitoring of quality improvement of the EMS air ambulance providers, for January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2014 (total revenue $250,000).
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 18-19 Adopted |
FY19-20 Projected |
FY 20-21 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
25,000 |
25,625 |
26,265 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
25,000 |
25,625 |
26,265 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
25,000 |
25,625 |
26,265 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
25,000 |
25,625 |
26,265 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
First year revenue for the proposed agreement is $25,000, including $25,000 for Calendar year 2019, which is included in the FY 18-19 budget. Future year revenue will be included in the appropriate future year budgets. Future year revenue will be based on first year amount plus Consumer Price Index (CPI) (approximately 1.5-2.5% each year).
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A - I Step) |
Additions (number) |
Deletions (number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Agreement with REACH Air Medical Holdings, LLC
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None