Transport providers back governor's single-platform idea but warn about rates, pilots and provider payments

Representatives of ambulance companies, rural non‑emergency providers and a national medical-transportation manager told the Human Services Committee they generally support the governor’s proposal to establish a single administrative platform for non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), while urging careful implementation to protect rural providers and ensure timely payments.

Buck McAlpin of the Minnesota Ambulance Association told the committee that NEMT has long strained the ambulance industry and that “we're turning down about 4,500 rides a month because half their vehicles are parked because of the low payment.” Phil Stahlberger, senior vice president of MTM (Medical Transportation Management), said his company supports a single statewide structure and that “DHS and or you would know exactly how many rides are happening each and every day, and how many rides aren't happening each and every day.”

Why it matters: Testimony emphasized three implementation priorities — fraud reduction and ride validation through tracking software, pilots and evaluation to test an administrative model, and ensuring provider payment rates and cash flow are adequate so vehicles remain in service.

Buck McAlpin urged pilots and careful rate design, saying the 2014 statutory work on a single platform led to a similar concept and that modern software can validate rides from pickup to drop-off. Phil Stahlberger and MTM noted that other states use centralized platforms and that a single administrative system can improve coordination and reveal rides that are not occurring because of provider shortages.

Ending: Providers recommended legislated pilots, technology validation and rate work before a full statewide rollout to avoid creating gaps in rural transportation service.