Amy, transportation coordinator at the Vernon County ADRC, reported the program currently has three paid positions covering four paid drivers and about 10 volunteer drivers. The ADRC operates one minibus and two handicapped-accessible minivans; staff described seating and wheelchair capacities and said the service continues to run special monthly trips when drivers are available.

Amy said the ADRC is exploring a “find your own driver” reimbursement policy modeled on other counties’ programs. Under that model the client would pay a recruited driver and then receive reimbursement; the program would set parameters such as monthly mileage limits and per-mile reimbursement. Staff noted the Medicaid reimbursement rate was used by other counties as an example (about $0.46 per mile), while paid ADRC drivers were reimbursed at about $0.70 per mile and hourly pay for paid drivers is roughly $14.90, figures discussed during the meeting.

Usage data through April showed 237 individuals used the volunteer driver program, 142 used the minibus, and 258 used the minivans for a total of 637 unique individuals and approximately 1,301 one-way rides in that reporting period. Staff said volunteer and paid drivers undergo background checks like employees.

The ADRC plans to review neighboring counties’ policies and draft its own procedures and eligibility parameters for the reimbursement pilot before returning to the committee for approval.