/ 6717 East Second Street, Suite D
Prescott Valley, Arizona 86314
Phone (928) 771-3560 or (928) 639-8196
Toll Free (800) 850-1020
Fax (928) 771-3542 or (928) 639-8199
Jesse Eller, Director
July 26, 2010
The Honorable Janice K. Brewer
Governor of Arizona
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Re: Reinstatement of County Right of First Refusal for the ALTCS Contract
Dear Governor Brewer,
My name is Jesse Eller. I am the Director of Long Term Care for Yavapai County Government (YCLTC). In this capacity and as a County Board of Supervisors appointee, I am directly responsible for the daily operations of the Long Term Care Department ensuring that over 1000 elderly and physically disabled individuals receive the appropriate and much needed healthcare. I am aware of your incredible responsibility and the work ahead of you so I will keep this letter brief.
YCLTC has been the program contractor for ALTCS in Yavapai County since 1993 and submitted successful bid proposals in 2001 and 2006. This department has successfully demonstrated for 17 years the ability to administer the ALTCS program effectively and efficiently. In just two years, our enrollment has increased 12%. We have reduced and under filled positions, and developed new administrative processes that ultimately reduced our administrative expenses from 8.6% for the contract year ending 06/07 to 6.4% for the contract year ending 09/10. During this time of rapid growth in enrollment, we have proven we can do more with less and with out sacrificing quality as proven by our improvement in AHCCCS mandated Performance Measures and a member survey conducted by AHCCCS in the Fall of 2008. The member survey indicated that YCLTC has the highest member satisfaction for Care Management and as a Program Contractor for all ALTCS contractors in Arizona.
I would like to offer for your consideration, the reinstatement of “County Right of First Refusal” for the Request for Proposal due in 2011 regarding Arizona Long Term Care Services (ALTCS) contract with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).
The cost savings projected would be for Yavapai County, all other Arizona counties, AHCCCS and ultimately the tax payers for the administrative costs and hundreds of man hours needed to prepare and review the RFP for ALTCS services. Other costs could include the implementation of a new program contractor if YCLTC would not be awarded the contract, the sudden loss of employment for 55 Yavapai County employees, administrative costs to the 600+ providers currently under contract with YCLTC to change program contractors and potential gaps in services to our members.
I can be contacted at (928) 771-3560 ext. 3559 or
Respectfully,
Jesse Eller, MBA
Director
Yavapai County Long Term Care