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Daniels County agrees to pay flat $7,500 annually to support hospital transportation program
Summary
Commissioners approved changing county support for the hospital-run transportation program from per-mile reimbursement to a flat $7,500 yearly contribution, to be paid quarterly beginning July 1, to improve program cash flow and driver recruitment.
The Daniels County commissioners voted March 16 to provide a flat annual contribution of $7,500 to a hospital-operated community transportation program that serves older adults and others with medical-transport needs.
Bridget, representing the hospital’s transportation program, told the board the service was established in 2006 and is supported mainly by state and federal grants with the hospital subsidizing gaps. She said rides have declined in recent years and that recruiting and retaining drivers is difficult under the current per-mile reimbursement arrangement.
"My hope would be that we take the full $7,500 for the year, maybe split it into quarterly payments, which then helps me in the grand scheme of things of adjusting some numbers and trying to make the driver position a little more attractive," Bridget said during the presentation.
Commissioners discussed whether the flat payment should come from the senior-citizen budget and confirmed the board could structure the contract language to emphasize service priority and reporting. A motion to pay the full $7,500 annually in quarterly installments passed; staff said the change would start July 1 and that the hospital would continue to provide quarterly reporting on rides and finances.
Commissioners asked the hospital representative to continue outreach and reporting to help the service reach more riders and to track outcomes for grant applications. The funding change is intended to stabilize the program’s cash flow and support driver recruitment efforts.
