Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Public Safety Director to enter into a contract with CareWorks USA Ltd. to provide prisoner medical claims services as needed for the Division of Police. The scope of services outlined in the City formal request for proposal (RFP) include: the creation and maintenance of an electronic medical claims database, coordination of billing with local medical providers, medical review of claims for appropriateness of charges and the utilization of Preferred Provider Networks.
The Division of Police is obligated to enforce the criminal and traffic ordinances of the City of Columbus and laws of the State of Ohio necessitating the apprehension and incarceration of violators. The Columbus City Attorney, through memorandum to the Division of Police, has determined that the Division of Police is liable for the medical care of those injured or sick individuals who are under arrest or lawfully detained. The Division of Police continues to experience increasing costs associated with the review and payment of medical claims. The services provided by CareWorks USA Ltd. will provide greater scrutiny of medical claims submitted to the Division as well as the added benefit of cost reductions available through Preferred Provider Networks. The Division of Police anticipates that the cost reductions will be equal to or greater than the cost of the first year of this contract.
Bid Information: An evaluation committee comprised of representatives from the Department of Public Safety, Division of Police, and Department of Finance and Management completed a review of the single proposal submitted to the City in response to a formal request for proposal (RFP) SA003281 held on July 14, 2009. The committee recommended award to CareWorks USA, Ltd. The vendor was selected based upon their initial response to the defined criteria listed in the RFP, subsequent response to follow-up questions from the committee, and adherence to the Columbus City Code requirement as the best, most responsible and responsive bidder.
Contract Compliance - 31-1775640 (MAJ) expires on 10/07/2010
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is requested to enable the Division of Police to immediately process the necessary paperwork to secure funding prior to the expiration of the bid, and to begin project implementation, in an effort to reduce claims costs at the earliest possible time.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $73,000.00 from the General Fund and although this expenditure was not part of the Division's 2009 Operating Budget, the Division anticipates a savings in prisoner medical claim payments across the term of this contract, thereby recouping a portion, if not all, of this expenditure. The Division has identified available funds in the 2009 Operating Budget through savings in other service areas. In 2008, the Division of Police expended $362,852.19 for said prisoner medical care. The budget for prisoner medical bills in 2009 is $375,000 and $270,468.69 has so far been expended.
Title
To authorize and direct the Public Safety Director to enter into contract with CareWorks USA Ltd. for prisoner medical claim services and access to Preferred Provider Networks for the Division of Police; to authorize the expenditure of $73,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($73,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Police is obligated to enforce the criminal and traffic ordinances of the City of Columbus and laws of the State of Ohio and in doing so, will continue to apprehend and incarcerate violators; and
WHEREAS, the Division of Police is liable for the medical care of injured and/or sick individuals who are under arrest or lawfully detained; and
WHEREAS, it is in the City's best interest to procure professional services to assist the Division of Police with the administration, review and payment of prisoner medical claims in the most efficient and cost-effective manner; and
WHEREAS, a formal bid, SA003281, for professional prisoner medical claims services was opened; and
WHEREAS, an evaluation committee comprised of City representatives reviewed the single proposal submitted to the City, in accordance with defined selection criteria, subsequent vendor response to follow-up questions from the committee; and Chapter 329.12 of the Columbus City Codes; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation committee recommended award to CareWorks USA, Ltd. for professional prisoner medical claims services for the Division of Police; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into contract to gain access to Preferred Provider Networks which will reduce prisoner medical claims costs, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Public Safety Director be and is hereby authorized and directed to enter into contract with CareWorks USA Ltd. for Prisoner Medical Claims services.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $73,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and the same is hereby authorized as follows:
|DIV 30-03 | FUND 010 | OBJ LEVEL ONE 03 | OBJ LEVEL THREE 3336 | OCA 301382|
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.