Two of the companies chosen are currently providing non-emergency services in other Regions. Logisticare, which serves Region 8 (York County and parts of Southern Oxford County), was chosen in four Regions - Region 1 - Aroostook County; Region 2 - Washington and Hancock Counties; Region 6 - Cumberland County; and Region 7 - Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin Counties.
Penquis Community Action Program, which currently serves Region 3 - Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties, was selected in Region 4 - Kennebec and Somerset Counties. Waldo Community Action Program was chosen to serve Region 5 - Lincoln, Knox, Waldo and Sagadahoc Counties.
This Request for Proposal drew a total of 32 bids from 11 bidders for the six regional contracts. Each proposal was scored in five areas: organizational qualifications and experience; scope of work to be performed; bidder's cost; bidder's cost narrative to explain the bid's rationale; and economic impact on the State of Maine.
Three significant changes were made in the scope of work that was defined by the State/ The changes included additional protections for young children, including the requirement that parents give permission for
any mode of transportation to be utilized; the removal of the provision that limited transportation to pharmacies; and the flexibility for the Department to consider requests for exceeding the 25 percent limit on ride delivery by the broker if the broker can demonstrate the need to do so to accommodate trip demand.
"We were pleased that this proposal brought a high level of interest and quality proposals,'' said Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew. "I appreciate the work of those who have been involved in the review and scoring process and look forward to a successful transition of services in each of the Regions."
Those who were not selected have the right to appeal the decision and that appeal must be filed by May 8. Once the appeal period has passed, the Department will begin final negotiations with awardees. All non-emergency transportation providers must produce a performance bond within two weeks of the contract being signed and before providing any level of service.
The brokerage system pays a fixed, contracted rate to the broker to deliver rides to each MaineCare member within its service region(s). This system was launched on August 1 in response to concerns of the federal government which did not approve of the State's previous way of delivering services and deemed Maine non-compliant with federal rules. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services voiced its opposition to a system where providers of the rides also served as the broker of the service. The federal government also had concerns about the lack of access to transportation for after-hour appointments, urgent care needs and the availability of transportation modes like wheelchair vans to meet certain medical needs.
Coordinated Transportation Solutions, which was informed that the state would not renew any of its contracts when they expire on June 30 submitted bids in all six regions but was not selected. CTS will continue to provide services until its contract expires with the State. MaineCare members and providers currently served by CTS should continue to contact them regarding transportation until further notice from the Department. The continuation of the contract until its expiration will allow for a smoother transition across the six regions.
"We remain committed to the brokerage model and will do all that we can to minimize any disruption of services of those who rely on these critical services,'' said Mayhew.
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