County transit providers and commissioners told Medicaid wheelchair trips are not being routed through JFS; senior levy paying some costs

A local nonemergency transportation provider told the commissioners that Medicaid-funded wheelchair transportation trips are not being routed through Trumbull County Jobs and Family Services (JFS), and that as a result some wheelchair trips are being charged to the county senior-services levy.

Why it matters: The provider said other counties coordinate wheelchair Medicaid trips through JFS or managed-care arrangements and bill Medicaid directly; the provider and county transit staff told commissioners that Trumbull County clients who qualify for Medicaid sometimes instead use senior-levy-funded transportation, increasing costs for the levy program.

What was said at the meeting: - The provider said Trumbull County’s RFPs and bid process for nonemergency transport currently seek ambulatory services but do not include wheelchair-accessible services for Medicaid clients, and that other counties include wheelchair services in their Medicaid contracts. - County transit staff and a commissioner suggested the issue has been discussed previously between transit, JFS and county officials, and asked that a meeting be reconvened with the appropriate parties to review current contracting, billing flows and state rules for Medicaid nonemergency transportation. - Commissioners directed staff to schedule a follow-up meeting that includes JFS leadership, the transit administrator and transportation providers to map the claims and billing process and identify whether Medicaid resources can be accessed for the wheelchair trips charged to the senior levy.

Ending: Parties agreed to hold a meeting with JFS leadership to resolve whether wheelchair trips should be contracted and billed through Medicaid/nonemergency-transport contracts rather than drawing on senior-levy funds.