Meeting Minutes – Approved May 10, 2007

 

Date:               Thursday, April 12, 2007

Time:               12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Place:              1400 Emeline Avenue, Bldg K, Room 206, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

 

1.0       Call to Order

Chair Stone called the meeting to order at 12:40 p.m.

 

2.0       Roll Call

Present:          Charles Stone, Doug Patrick, Peter Heylin, Aaron Spencer, Robert McGaw, Joseph Quigg

Absent:            Michael Bush, Jeanette Cosentino

Guest(s):         Barbara Flynn, RN, Director of Health Services, Central Coast Alliance for Health, Jack Solomon, MV Transportation, John Daugherty, Metro Regional Transportation

Staff:                Mary Thuerwachter, Commission Coordinator

 

3.0 Announcements

 

4.0 Minutes

ACTION: The Commission approved the March Meeting minutes.

Msp Mcgaw/Heylin

 

5.0 Additions/Deletions

 

6.0 Oral Communications

John Daugherty, Metro, brought copies of the newly published Guide to Specialized Transportation Services for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities.

 

Barbara Flynn, the Alliance, reported on the new Medi-Cal transportation contract with MV Transportation.  Giving some background, she discussed the financial situation at the Alliance.   Although the cost of administration at the Alliance is low (6.4%), the Alliance was projecting a $700,000 per month shortfall, due in large part to a State mandated increase in reimbursement rates for Skilled Nursing Facilities, without a corresponding increase in funding for the Alliance. 

 

Although funding was eventually increased for the Alliance, the State began closely monitoring cost containment measures at the Alliance.   It was discovered that the Alliance had been spending an average of $20 per member per year for non-emergency medical transportation.  The average cost in the state is $4 per person per year.    As a result, the Alliance put out an RFP for its transportation contract.  The two finalists were Community Bridges and MV Transportation.  The contract was to cover both Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.  Community Bridges proposed to partner with Precious Cargo to provide rides in Monterey County.  However, Precious Cargo lost its Medi-Cal provider number and cancelled previously scheduled service without notice.  Eighteen dialysis patients were left without transportation.  (85% of  Medi-Cal transport rides are for dialysis treatment.) MV Transportation stepped in and no one missed a ride for dialysis. 

 

Medi-Cal will only pay for transportation, other than ambulance services, if the rider qualifies under Title 22 because of wheelchair use or need for litter van.  Some previous Medi-Cal transportation recipients were provided rides even though they were not eligible under Title 22.  The Alliance has been referring these members to Para-transit and providing bus passes.  If an Alliance member feels they were wrongfully denied transportation, they have the right to appeal the decision to the Alliance and can also request a State Fair Hearing.  Although not much data is currently available, there has been no increase in number of missed medical appointments under the new contract with MV Transportation.   More information will be available after the first quarter of  the MV Transportation contract.

 

Jack Solomon, General Manager, MV Transportation, reported that his company honored all previously scheduled rides made by Community Bridges and Precious Cargo even when the rider did not qualify under Title 22.  However, these riders were informed that they could not continue to use the service and were referred to Para-transit and to the Alliance for bus passes.

 

Commissioner Spencer was concerned that the number of riders had shrunk so dramatically.  He queried whether or not they would be able to get back into the Medi-Cal ride program.  Solomon’s response was that it was up to the State to reconsider their criteria.

 

7.0 Reports

 

7.1 Commissioner Reports

 

Chair Stone reported that Disability Action Day will be held in Sacramento at the end of May. 

 

Commissioner Spencer reported that he was working on a disability awareness group that would include youth groups and involve CCCIL.  He also discussed the possibility of a parade, rally  or resource fair.

 

Commissioner Patrick reported that the education cards concerning disabled parking printed by the COD may need to be updated because, when people called the Sheriff’s number, they were automatically referred to the CHP.   He agreed to contact the Sheriff’s department to determine why the referrals were being made and whether the cards should be changed. 

 

Commissioner Quigg reported that his accessible housing project,  which uses universal design principles, would be reviewed at the Santa Cruz City Council meeting on May 24 at 3 p.m.  It contains 15 affordable units.

 

7.2 Coordinator Report

The coordinator reported that the Commission office had received the following flyers: IHSS will be holding an Open Forum for Consumer, Providers and Agencies on Wed, 9/13/2007, 10a.m. – 1 p.m. at Simpkins Swim Center.  Senior  Council presents Steps to Healthy Aging Tuesday May 22 at Holy Cross Hall 10-12.  She reported that she will scan these kind of announcements as they are received and forward them to the commissioners via e-mail. This will allow commissioners more time to add these events to their schedule.  She also reported that an application has been submitted to the Volunteer Initiative Program to work on organizing the Commission’s archives and resource materials. 

 

8.0 Ongoing Business

 

Inclusive Home Design/Universal Access:

 

Legislation:

 

Disability Awareness/Cultural Competency:

·         CAP Update

 

Terry Brickley Scholarship: Commissioner Heylin  reported that he would be receiving $5,000 in settlement of a disability lawsuit against Mission Tile and would donate it to the COD and the Terry Brinkley scholarship fund.

 

8.2 Commission vacancy update

There was a discussion that many of the Commissioners do not live in the districts where they have been appointed.  Commissioner Quigg stated he would like to be reappointed to the 3rd district where he lives.  Staff will investigate and report at the next meeting.

 

8.3 Emergency Response Protocol for PWD’s – Commissioner Stone spoke with Michael Dever, EOS, and asked that both the Commission on Disabilities and IHSS Commission be notified of emergency preparedness action items.

 

8.4 Creating a stronger and more cohesive disability community in Santa Cruz

 

9.0 New Business

 

Next meeting’s agenda:

Strategic Plan  - Retreat Planning

 

Meeting adjourned 2:00 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Mary Thuerwachter

Commission Coordinator