Trumbull County officials debate who should pay for wheelchair trips as transit ridership rises

Trumbull County transit officials told the county commissioners that ridership has increased this year and that the county’s transit program is absorbing costs for wheelchair trips that staff said should be paid by Medicaid.

Transit director Mike Sale reported 27,983 trips through Aug. 31, an increase of 1,655 trips from a year earlier, and said the agency projects about 42,000 trips for the year. He told commissioners that about 70% of trips are for older adults and that wheelchair trips are a growing expense. “You consider if somebody’s in a wheelchair going to dialysis 3 days a week, that adds up,” Sale said.

County staff and Department of Job and Family Services (JFS) representatives said Medicaid managed-care organizations (MCOs) already pay for non‑ambulatory, wheelchair transportation through capitation arrangements. Melissa Binion of JFS told the commissioners the state’s contracted Medicaid providers “are already being paid for that service,” and that JFS can provide the county with a list of Medicaid transportation vendors.

Transit and JFS staff described practical coordination problems. Transit staff said some wheelchair riders who call the county’s transit line have not been routed to their MCOs, increasing demand on county-funded programs. JFS officials acknowledged separate work units for eligibility and transportation can lead to inconsistent referrals and said they will share vendor lists and discuss operational fixes; they also cautioned about staff and funding constraints if the county were to assume additional duties.

Officials summarized the current funding picture: transit net costs have been reduced by grant revenue but local matches remain significant. The transit summary provided to commissioners estimated a per-trip cost of about $13.55 through August (with first-half grant support) and projected about $35 per trip for the second half of the year when grant funding ends. Staff said a $200,000 local match helps support disability services, with additional local support coming from the board of developmental disabilities and from the senior levy.

Commissioners asked county administration and JFS to follow up with supervisors to ensure callers who are Medicaid recipients in wheelchairs are referred to their MCO vendors and to explore whether JFS can more actively connect callers to the Medicaid providers that contract for wheelchair trips. Staff agreed to compile vendor contact information and to discuss operational changes with supervisors.

The commissioners did not adopt a new policy during the meeting; they directed staff to pursue coordination with JFS and report back.