The Houston Health Department (HHD) requests City Council approval of an ordinance amending an agreement between Harris County and the City of Houston for the provision of non-emergency alternate transportation services. The original agreement became effective on March 29, 2016 by Ordinance No. 2016-0227 upon approval by City Council.
The original agreement mistakenly provided for the City to pay Harris County an amount not to exceed $50 per one-way trip of 14 miles or more plus 15% service delivery fee. The Parties desire to correct the fee schedule of the original agreement to reflect a maximum fee of $150 per one way trip of 14 or more miles plus 15% service delivery fee. This will not require additional funding because the cost of the service is not expected to exceed previously allocated funds as rides over $50 are infrequent and result from rush hour traffic, trains, longer trips and other unusual circumstances.
The County, through the Harris County Community Services Department, Office of Transit Services RIDES program, offers non-emergency alternate transportation services to elderly, disabled and low-income residents of Harris County who are unable to access alternate transportation for medical trips, work trips and other essential needs trips to remain independent in the community. Under this agreement, the County provides non-emergency transportation services to HFD’s patients who utilize the Emergency Tele-Health and Navigation Program (“ETHAN”) administered by HFD.
The ETHAN program is an innovative technology-based program that connects non-emergency patients with primary care services and provides an alternative transportation. It increases the efficiency of HFD by allowing ambulance units to go back in service much faster by avoiding transportation to the emergency room. UT Health Science Center estimates that the ETHAN program has saved the City of Houston approximately $7 million in the last year. The program has received national attention for its innovative model and has put the City of Houston at the forefront of emergency medical services innovation.