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County transit director updates board on Medicaid rides, staffing and upcoming FTA review
Summary
Carter Baldwin, director of LIFTS, told supervisors the department is fully staffed for drivers, is pursuing Medicaid-waiver certification to provide rides for Medicaid clients, and expects an on-site Federal Transit Administration review in June.
Carter Baldwin, director of LIFTS (the county's public transit service), updated the Board of Supervisors on April 8 about staffing, a pending Medicaid-waiver application and equipment upgrades.
Baldwin said the department is currently fully staffed for full-time driver positions but will lose a mechanic who is transferring to another department, which leaves one mechanic on staff. He said the department uses dispatchers and mechanics to cover routes when drivers are absent and that staffing options under review include part-time or additional full-time positions.
On certification for Medicaid-provided rides, Baldwin said the county is "in the process of getting that application filled out with DHS for the waiver, Medicaid waiver, certification so that we can provide those rides." Once certification is in place the county anticipates negotiating contracts with managed care organizations for Medicaid rides and bringing any contract to the Board for approval.
Baldwin also said the agency replaced onboard tablets with updated software to support driver timekeeping and scheduling and that the Federal Transit Administration triennial review includes an in-person portion expected on June 11 and 12.
Board members thanked Baldwin for the transit service and for coordination with other agencies; several supervisors described recent ride-along experiences and praised drivers' demeanor and service to vulnerable residents.
Quotes in this article are from Carter Baldwin and Board members who commented during the department update.
