Title
An Ordinance approving an intergovernmental transfer (IGTa) by the City of Lee’s Summit to Missouri Healthnet Division for participation in the SFY: 2026 Supplemental GEMT MCO Program in the amount of $87,041.48 and authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to effectuate the same by and on behalf of the City. (F&BC 11/2/26)
Body
Issue/Request:
Adoption of an Ordinance authorizing execution of all necessary agreements with the Missouri Department of Social Services (MDSS), including its Mo HealthNet Division (MHD), to allow the City to participate in the supplemental Managed Care Organization, Ground Emergency Medical Transport (GEMT) program.
Key Issues:
The GEMT program is sponsored by the State of Missouri, Department of Social Services, MO Healthnet Division (MHD). It is a fee-for-service program that is voluntary for governmental entities. If an entity participates, it can seek cost reimbursement by applying for federal funds to bring payment per transport up to or closer to full cost. Simply, it allows the City to recover more costs for services and mileage in the transport of federally insured patients in the Medicare/Medicaid programs.
The fee for this service is based on the amount of federal funds collected and true costs for service provision. Annually, the City provides a cost report to the state accounting for all costs associated with ambulance transport. The City has participated in the program since 2018. In 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved a request from the state of Missouri to include managed care organizations (MCO) in the GEMT program. Providers that submitted an SFY 2023 Fee for Service cost report are eligible to participate in the expansion program.
The City received a letter from MDSS on 8/31/2026 with details on what the SFY 2026 program intergovernmental transfer amount would be in relation to the Net Federal Participation amount. (See Exhibit A) Based on the cost report for SFY 2026 the Net Cost of Transports for the MCO was $421,005.00. The IGT required was $87,041.48 for a net return to the City of $333,963.52. Due to a miscommunication the processing of the IGT was delayed, causing the City Manager to enact the Emergency Purchase Clause of the Procurement Policy to meet the deadline. In approximately 2019 the GEMT program was moved to the Finance Department for administration and budgeting purposes. The cost share is funded by the Finance Department. The Fire Department provides a liaison to the Finance Department to ensure that the required elements are available for the Finance Department and to ensure understanding of fire and EMS operations.
A series of agreements is necessary each year, and the Ordinance will authorize the Mayor to sign the original agreements and allow the City Manager to enter into agreements as required by MHD on behalf of the City going forward, provided the requirements for the City remain substantially the same.
Proposed Committee Motion:
I move to recommend to City Council approval of An Ordinance authorizing the execution of all necessary intergovernmental agreements between the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri and the Missouri Department of Social Services including its MO HealthNet Division to permit the city to participate in the supplemental Ground Emergency Medical Transportation Uncompensated Cost Reimbursement Program.
Presenter
Brian Austerman, Deputy Fire Chief
Dave York, Assistant Fire Chief