SUBJECT
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Approve the second amendment to the contract with We Care of Central Florida, Inc., for transportation to health care services to eligible low-income county residents. (No fiscal impact)
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DESCRIPTION
We Care of Central Florida, Inc. (We Care), a not-for-profit corporation, arranges volunteer specialty medical care, diagnostics, and vision/optical services for Polk County residents who are uninsured or underinsured. Additionally, community partners provide primary care, specialty care, dental care and behavioral health services to residents meeting the same criteria and the Polk HealthCare Plan (PHP) has a network of primary care and specialty care providers.
In order to increase access to healthcare appointments for the clients, We Care’s Project Ride to Health provides clients with free rides for We Care client eligibility, to We Care pre-scheduled healthcare appointments, to medical appointments for PHP members and to medical appointments with Community Partners via Uber Health and Lyft.
Project Ride to health provides flexible ride scheduling for patients and caregivers/translators. The Patient Outreach Coordinator books a ride on demand, or for a future appointment, to seamlessly coordinate rides for those in need. The Patient Outreach/Logistics Coordinator can schedule rides to take place immediately, within a few hours, or up to 30 days in advance. This allows transportation to be scheduled for follow-up appointments while client is still at the healthcare facility. Multiple rides can be scheduled and managed at the same time.
We Care collaborates with (and arranges for transportation to appointments with) community partners including but not limited to:
§ Central Florida Health Care, Inc.
§ Lake Wales Free Clinic
§ Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, Inc.
§ Parkview Outreach Community Center
§ Peace River Center for Personal Development, Inc.
§ The Haley Center
§ Tri-County Human Services, Inc.
§ Winter Haven Center for Behavioral Health
The County contracted with We Care effective October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2024. The first amendment extended the term of the contract to September 30, 2026, along with increased funding. This second amendment extends the term of the contract for another two years from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2028. Additionally, this amendment, amends contract language that currently restricts eligibility to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and now states eligibility will align with the Florida Statutes and our County Ordinance as amended.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the second amendment to the contract with We Care of Central Florida, Inc. for transportation to health care services.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are budgeted in the Indigent Health Care Fund.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Joy Johnson, Administrator, Health and Human Services Division at 863-534-5204