Social Determinants of Health Transportation Solution
Overview
Alliance for Better Health (Alliance) is seeking a transportation solution that will connect eligible Medicaid recipients with social care services that address basic needs. This solution is a direct response to the growing body of research demonstrating that addressing social determinants of health (i.e. transportation) more effectively in underserved communities can improve health while lowering costs. We envision a solution that is straightforward and easy to use at a community-based organization, or perhaps on a smartphone, or PC. A short outline of the business requirements is below.
Established in 2015, Alliance and its daughter organization Healthy Alliance IPA, collaborate with community partners to address social needs before they turn into costly, medical problems. With more than 100 partners in New York’s Tech Valley and Capital Region, Alliance prioritizes building health equity for all.
To better serve the community, Alliance uses Healthy Together, a closed-loop referral platform powered by Unite Us. Healthy Together links health providers of all kinds (from regional hospitals to local food pantries and everyone in between), so that basic human needs – not just medical ones – are met timely and effectively.
Problem:
Currently, New York State Medicaid benefits only cover transportation for medical services. Alliance has identified a need for transportation to non-medical services that address Social Determinants of Health and meet social needs, such as benefit navigation and food access. When this happens, individuals are more likely to seek and maintain preventive medical activities, reducing the frequency of emergency department visits and hospital admissions that cost our health system billions every year.
Key Definitions:
User: A care coordinator employed by partnering community or clinical based providers that are trained on appropriate usage and provided log on information to book the ride on behalf of the rider.
Rider: A community member that the User is engaged in to address social determinant of health concerns, and has transportation noted as barrier to receive those services. User determines that the transportation solution can facilitate immediate connection to services.
Ride Purpose: A set of predetermined ride categories that the user would select to identify the purpose of the ride.
Our vision for a workflow:
1. Transportation need is identified for a community member (Rider) by a community partner (User)
2. User will log on to a web-based transportation solution and book an on-demand or future ride for approved ride purpose.
3. Rider will receive a notification that ride has been scheduled.
4. Rider will receive a notification that driver is assigned and estimated time of pick up.
5. Rider is picked up and dropped off at predetermined destination.
6. Rider Anonymity is secured, driver unaware of rider history, payer or who booked ride.
7. Rider and/or User can initiate return ride via text/solution.
8. Rider and/or User can cancel ride.
9. User continues to work with rider to transition rider to a more sustainable transportation plan.
10. Rider and User usage reports are reviewed for audit purposes and to demonstrate ROI.
Summary:
The RFP is for a set of components that should addressed-
1. A Web-based platform that enables Users to schedule on-demand and future rides for customizable ride types.
2. A robust Transportation Network that services Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Warren County with ability to expand to surrounding counties in New York State.
3. A robust analytics and customizable reporting tool.
4. A simple cost model that allows usage to be partitioned in different segments such as by contracts.
5. A business model or strategic plan that supports Social Determinants of Health initiatives.
Ideal Solution will be able to demonstrate:
1. User access to create or select a rider and schedule ride.
2. Creation of user groups to allow breakout for reporting and invoicing.
3. Creation of rider profile that captures key demographics and CIN number.
4. Creation of customized ride purposes.
5. Use of technology to accept and dispatch the driver.
6. Use of technology to inform the User and Rider of the ride status.
7. Dashboards and analytic tools available to monitor usage.
8. Experience in facilitating rides to non-medical destinations.
9. Strategy to address rural vehicle access with an adequate network.
10. Strategy to address wheelchair vehicle access with an adequate network.
11. Quality standards and accountability for the ride service provided.
12. Management of network to NYS Department of transportation standards.
13. Training and ongoing support for Users and Customer.
14. Cost model that delineates baseline ride cost, booking fees, volume discounts, license fees or any other billable line or account activity that would appear on the invoice.
15. Successful customer engagement examples (i.e. references, customer feedback tools)
Timeline:
1. RFP window will open on July 1st and will close at 3pm ET on July 17th.
2. RFP Q&A session will be July 8th 10:30am-11:00am ET. Zoom meeting information will be shared with the prospective bidders that email questions@abhealth.us with subject line Transportation RFP Q&A.
3. Review of proposals will conclude by July 26, 2020.
4. Demonstration of the product will be requested of qualified candidates.
5. Notification to the successful candidate is targeted for early August.
6. Target Product implementation January 2021 with the flexibility to begin rolling users over starting in Fall 2020.
7. Alliance can alter the timeline at their discretion.
20. Feel free to upload your proposal here.