Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance will authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into various contracts to provide PASSPORT home care and assisted living services for older adults in Central Ohio for the first year of a two-year period beginning July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
There are currently 664 PASSPORT and assisted living agencies that provide services to older adults in accordance to the Ohio Department of Aging contracting requirements (See attachment). PASSPORT (Pre-Admission Screening System Providing Options and Resources Today) is a Medicaid-funded program that provides home care services as an alternative to nursing home admission and currently serves 8,700 individuals.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION:
Emergency action is requested in order to meet the conditions of the grant so that providers can be paid within 30 days of providing service, and so that services can continue beyond June 30, 2025.
This ordinance is contingent on the passage of Ordinance 1344-2025.
PRINCIPAL PARTIES:
See attached list of 664 providers.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$86,516,252.00 is required from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund to enter into contracts.
WAIVER OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING:
A bid waiver is requested for these contracts in order to comply with the PASSPORT Administrative Agency (PAA) rules and regulations set forth in the grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) and Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) as defined by OAC 173-39. COAAA, as the PAA for Central Ohio, is required to enter into contract with all ODA-certified PASSPORT providers within the Central Ohio service area within 60 days of certification. This requires COAAA to enter into contract with new providers more regularly than the competitive bidding process will allow. While this Ordinance authorizes COAAA to enter into contract with PASSPORT provider for the period of July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, ODA will continue to certify providers on a rolling basis throughout this period. It is essential that COAAA maintain flexibility to enter into these contracts to remain compliant with the stipulations set forth in the grant agreement with the ODA, ODM, and Ohio Administrative Code. In order to comply with the PAA agreement in a timely manner, COAAA is asking for the authority to enter into additional contracts as they are certified by ODA prior to seeking City Council approval.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks to enter into contracts with the agencies listed on the attachment hereto for the provision of Pre-Admission Screening System Providing Options and Resources Today (PASSPORT) home care and assisted living services for older adults in Central Ohio for the period of July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025; to authorize the expenditure of $86,516,252.00 from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes; and to declare an emergency. ($86,516,252.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) is designated as a PASSPORT Administrative Agency (PAA) as defined by Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 173-39, and
WHEREAS, as a PASSPORT Administrative Agency (PAA), COAAA is responsible for complying with the rules and regulations set forth in the grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) and Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM), and
WHEREAS, included within the PAA agreement is a requirement to enter into service contracts with ODA-certified PASSPORT providers within 60 days of certification, and
WHEREAS, in order to comply with the terms of the PAA agreement, the Director of Recreation and Parks, on behalf of COAAA, seeks the authority to enter into contract with an ODA-certified PASSPORT providers as needed without seeking further City Council approval for the term of July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Codes Chapter 329 to the extent they are applicable; and
WHEREAS, the funds to enter into said contracts have been made available from the Ohio Department of Aging; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $86,516,252.00 from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Recreation and Parks in that it is necessary to allow for the Director to immediately enter into these service contracts to prevent the delay of vital home care and assisted living services to older adults and people with disabilities in the COAAA’s eight-county service area, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks is hereby authorized and directed to enter into contracts with the numerous ODA-certified providers listed on the attachment for the provision of PASSPORT home care and assisted living services for older adults in Central Ohio in accordance with the requirements of a PASSPORT Administrative Agency (PAA) as defined by OAC 173-39 for the first year of a two-year period beginning July 1, 2025.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks is authorized to enter into contracts with additional ODA-certified PASSPORT providers without seeking further City Council approval for the period of July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, in order to align with the requirements of the PAA agreement as defined by the Ohio Department of Aging and Ohio Department of Medicaid.
SECTION 3. That the requirement for further City Council approval to enter into PASSPORT service provider contracts with ODA-certified PASSPORT providers is hereby waived pursuant to Columbus City Codes Section 329.15, and that such waiver is in the best interests of the City.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $86,516,252.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized from Recreation and Parks Grant Fund No. 2286, Department No. 51, to pay the cost thereof, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That a waiver of the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code are requested for these contracts in order to comply with the PASSPORT Administrative Agency (PAA) rules and regulations set forth in the grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) and Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) as defined by OAC 173-39.
SECTION 6. That should the Ohio Department of Aging make additional funds available for the provision of PASSPORT home care and assisted living services, the Director of Recreation and Parks is hereby authorized to increase various contracts authorized by this Ordinance.
SECTION 7. That, at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized, and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they
originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 8. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this legislation.
SECTION 9. That the City Auditor will release the Auditor's Certificate upon receipt of an executed grant agreement.
SECTION 10. 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.