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Committee hears that senior and waiver transportation gaps are driving avoidable EMS use and multimillion-dollar costs
Summary
A Turnagain Social Club presentation to the committee said fragmented non-emergency transportation and low Medicaid waiver reimbursement push residents to use 911 and EMS; presenters estimated tens of thousands of preventable medical calls and argued better waiver transport could save millions.
At the April 2 meeting, Christina Sailing and Cheryl Howdy Shell of Turnagain Social Club and the Commission on Aging told the Community and Economic Development Committee that Anchorage's non-emergency transportation system is fragmented and underfunded, and that the gap is increasing reliance on emergency services.
Sailing summarized the scale: "Anchorage Fire Department responds to tens of thousands of calls every year. Over 36,000 total calls with nearly 25,000 of those relating to medical," she said, and noted Anchorage has roughly 48,000 Medicare enrollees,…
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