Conferees back multi-part approach to demand-response transportation, urge work on Medicaid background-check barriers

Conferees discussed a five-part package aimed at improving demand-response transportation and coordination with the Medicaid nonemergency transportation program.

Key elements include a one-time $600,000 transportation fund appropriation, AOT reports on Medicaid nonemergency transportation, a study of background-check problems that hinder volunteer drivers, DMV outreach and informational materials, and a working group to improve coordination between health care and transportation services.

Why it matters: rural Vermont areas rely on volunteer drivers and public transit for medical appointments. Committee members said volunteer driver counts fell from roughly 300 before COVID to about 150 and then 75 in later periods, reducing capacity. Conferees described friction among AOT, public transit agencies, and the Medicaid office over background-check requirements and information-sharing, and said a coordinated effort could make more volunteer capacity available for medical transports.

Members said Medicaid covers some nonemergency transports depending on local enrollment levels, but payment formulas and administrative arrangements are inconsistent across regions. The package directs agency reports and convening stakeholders to seek workable approaches, and includes publicity and outreach to raise awareness of eligibility and processes.

Next steps: conferees left language open to refine background-check fixes, asked for a working group convened by the secretary of transportation in consultation with Medicaid, and signaled that further negotiation is needed before finalizing any appropriation or statutory fixes.