Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Elderly & Veterans Services
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE Referral Rate Agreement, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1, between Broward County and service providers offering continuation of home-and community-based services to eligible Broward County elderly residents, in the estimated aggregate amount of $9,000,000, effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, with two one-year renewal options; authorize the County Administrator to execute the individual agreements (subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney) with qualified service providers; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the agreements.
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Why Action is Necessary
Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) approval is required to approve the terms and conditions of standard form agreements, to approve the distribution of funds to qualified service providers, and to authorize the County Administrator to execute the individual agreements.
What Action Accomplishes
Allows the Elderly and Veterans Services Division (“EVSD”) to enter into reimbursement agreements with qualified service providers to deliver home and community-based services to clients enrolled in the state-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative (“ADI”), Community Care for the Elderly (“CCE”), and Home Care for the Elderly (“HCE”) Programs; the Broward County funded Community Care for the Elderly Waitlist Reduction (“CCE WLR”) Initiative; and the Non-Department of Elder Affairs Adult Day Care Program (“NDP”) funded by the Areawide Council on Aging of Broward County Inc. (“Council”). This action further authorizes the County Administrator to execute the individual agreements with the service providers.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
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Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS SERVICES DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REQUESTED ACTION.
This action supports the Commission’s value of "building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives" and the goal of "delivering accessible human services that holistically address the whole person collaboratively and compassionately.” These reimbursement agreements allow for the procurement of necessary home- and community-based services to allow seniors to age in place with dignity.
EVSD requests Commission approval to contract with qualified service providers - home health, nurse registry, and other community agencies located in Broward County and licensed by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.
EVSD, through a competitive procurement process, has been designated the Lead Agency for the CCE Program since October 1, 1985. EVSD administers the CCE Program and provides case management, case aide, mental health screening/counseling, and medication management support services to functionally impaired seniors 60 years of age and older. EVSD maintains contracts with home health, nurse registry, and other community agencies for the provision of in-home and adult day care services and consumable medical supplies to EVSD’S clients. These vulnerable seniors receive appropriate services to prevent, postpone, or reduce their inappropriate or unnecessary placements in nursing homes and other institutions.
The HCE Program provides supportive services to frail seniors and their caregivers to encourage continued maintenance of care in family-type living arrangements as an alternative to nursing homes or similar institutions. EVSD provides the case management and case aide services and authorizes the Council to issue the monthly subsidy payments to eligible clients. Qualified service providers deliver consumable medical supplies.
The ADI Program provides supportive services to meet the changing needs of individuals and families with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. However, individuals served are 18 years of age and older with a diagnosis or are suspected of having Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. EVSD provides case management, case aide, mental health screening/counseling, and caregiver support groups. Qualified service providers deliver in-home respite services and consumable medical supplies.
The NDP is funded by the Council. EVSD provides case management services and qualified service providers deliver adult day care services to functionally impaired seniors whose only need is adult day care and who would otherwise languish on the CCE waitlist. As of July 16, 2024, there are 3,388 Broward County seniors on the waitlist.
The CCE WLR Initiative is funded by Broward County General Fund and provides services similar to CCE but to those seniors with a lower priority or less need. The seniors served by the CCE WLR Initiative have relatively low care plan costs and, through this program, can maintain their condition and self-sufficiency. Otherwise, they would languish on the CCE waitlist for years, causing their condition to worsen.
These Referral Rate Agreements also include language requiring the service providers to accept service-related assignments from the Broward County Emergency Operations Center during pre- and post-disaster phases to serve evacuees with emergency needs determined by the Broward Emergency Response Team.
As mandated by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, the Council serves as the local Area Agency on Aging and has directed EVSD, as the Lead Agency, to expand service provider opportunities within these programs to better serve elders. This Referral Rate Agreement will be used with current and new service providers and will be concurrent with the state’s fiscal year. This effort encompasses EVSD’s commitment to increase local service provider participation and maximize client choice opportunities.
There are no dollar amounts associated with any single provider’s Referral Rate Agreement. Clients have their choice of multiple service providers so no service provider is guaranteed any level of engagement or client assignment.
There are no outcomes attached to Referral Rate Agreements. The terms and conditions for service provision are dictated by the DOEA Programs and Services Handbook.
The Office of the County Attorney will review and approve as to form each service provider’s agreement, each of which will be in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1.
Source of Additional Information
Andrea Busada, Director, EVSD 954-448-6321
Deborah Meidinger-Hosey, EVSD 954-357-8806
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Appropriation of grant funding will be available in the following programs: Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative 80730-40404000; Community Care for the Elderly 80710-40404000; Home Care for the Elderly 80720-40404000; Non-Department of Elder Affairs Program for Adult Day Care 10146-40404000; and Broward County Fiscal Year 2024 Adopted Operating Budget 10010-40403000.