DEPARTMENT: Employment and Economic Assistance
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
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Ratification Of First And Second Amendment To Metropolitan County Consortium Joint Powers Agreement To Provide Non-Emergency Medical Transportation And Authorization Of Third Amendment
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, counties are required to provide Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) for participants in Medical Assistance as outlined in Minnesota Statute 256B.0625; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County participates in the Metropolitan County Consortium (MCC), through a joint powers agreement (JPA) with Anoka, Benton, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Mille Lacs, Pine, Ramsey, Sherburne, Stearns, Washington, and Wright counties (MCC members) to provide this service, which is managed by Hennepin County; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 20-515, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners (County Board) authorized Dakota County to enter a restated JPA with the MCC members with a term of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2024; and
WHEREAS, the JPA was amended twice without County Board approval, which extended the JPA through December 31, 2027; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County has proposed a third amendment to authorize Hennepin County, as fiscal agent of the MCC, to charge participating counties a 10% administrative fee allocated according to each county's utilization of MCC services; and
WHEREAS, the third amendment would also create criteria for new counties to join the MCC JPA; and
WHEREAS, the proposed third amendment requires agreement from all MCC members by November 11, 2026, which allows all counties to meet end of year board deadlines.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby ratifies the first and second amendments to the Metropolitan County Consortium joint powers agreement with Anoka, Benton, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Mille Lacs, Pine, Ramsey, Sherburne, Stearns, Washington, and Wright counties (MCA JPA) to provide Non-Emergency Medical Transportation, which extended the term of the MCC JPA through December 31, 2027; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the County Manager, or delegate, to execute a third amendment to the MCC JPA to amend membership and administrative billing terms, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form.
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BACKGROUND
In 2004, the Department of Human Services (DHS) implemented the Minnesota Nonemergency Transportation (MNET) program to improve services and control costs. Under MNET, DHS contracted with Medical Transportation Management, a medical transportation broker, to determine the appropriate level of transportation services for eligible publicly funded health care program enrollees statewide and make access transportation services (ATS) arrangements for fee-for-service enrollees in the eleven-county metropolitan area.
In 2009, there was a cost shift from the State to the counties for nonemergency medical ATS, and in 2009, Legislative action transferred the administration and coordination of ATS from the State to counties in the eleven-county metropolitan area effective July 1, 2009. To provide these services, the County Board authorized a Cooperative Agreement between Hennepin County and the other metropolitan counties choosing to participate in this arrangement that allowed Hennepin County to be reimbursed for the administrative services the broker provides.
This is a continuation of that agreement with updated membership and billing terms (Attachment: Contract Summary Sheet). Effective January 1, 2027, the MCC contract will include a 10% contract administration fee and a startup fee for new counties wishing to join the consortium. The trip fees and client service portions of the agreement are not changing. The previous agreement had a shared pool that is now being returned by participating counties. Dakota County’s share is $28,869.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends that the County continue to participate in the Metropolitan County Consortium as this is a required service and Dakota County has no capacity to set up this service.
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FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPACTS
The total increased cost of this JPA amendment is estimated to be $25,180. Funding for this increase will be included in the 2027 County Manager’s Recommended Budget. A one-time reimbursement to Dakota County of $28,869 will go to General Fund reserves.
|
Fund |
Department |
Program |
Funding Source |
2027 Recommended budget |
|
General Fund |
Employment and Economic Assistance |
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation |
Levy |
$259,621 |
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
20-515; 10/20/20
17-208; 04/18/17
16-596; 12/13/16
15-528; 10/20/15
13-555; 10/15/13
10-350; 6/22/10
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Contract Summary Sheet
Attachment: Presentation Slides
CONTACTS
Department Director: Dana DeMaster
Author: Dana DeMaster