Medicaid Expansion
Among the many reasons Age Wave supports Medicaid expansion, transportation for older adults for medical care is an issue that needs more visibility. Medicaid’s non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) benefit facilitates access to care for low income beneficiaries who otherwise may not have a reliable affordable means of getting to health care appointments.
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is a federally mandated service for Medicaid enrollees with no other means of transportation to their health care provider. It also assists people with disabilities and people who have limited public transit options and long travel times to health care providers.
In FY 2015, Virginia provided over four million trips to over 20,000 riders through NEMT.
NEMT can be a cost-effective means of facilitating access to care for Medicaid beneficiaries. Studies have shown that a lack of available or affordable transportation results in missed or delayed medical care and in a higher incidence of chronic health conditions that can escalate to a need for emergency care if not properly managed. It has also been noted that adults who lack transportation to medical care are disproportionately poor, elderly, and disabled and more likely to have multiple health conditions.
Connecting the Dots: Medicaid Expansion and Transportation
Virginia has very restrictive Medicaid eligibility:
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is a federally mandated service for Medicaid enrollees with no other means of transportation to their health care provider. It also assists people with disabilities and people who have limited public transit options and long travel times to health care providers.
In FY 2015, Virginia provided over four million trips to over 20,000 riders through NEMT.
NEMT can be a cost-effective means of facilitating access to care for Medicaid beneficiaries. Studies have shown that a lack of available or affordable transportation results in missed or delayed medical care and in a higher incidence of chronic health conditions that can escalate to a need for emergency care if not properly managed. It has also been noted that adults who lack transportation to medical care are disproportionately poor, elderly, and disabled and more likely to have multiple health conditions.
Connecting the Dots: Medicaid Expansion and Transportation
Virginia has very restrictive Medicaid eligibility:
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Since 2014, Virginia legislators have rejected the opportunity to provide affordable health insurance to hardworking Virginians. With expanded Medicaid, an estimated 300,000 low-income Virginia adults would enroll. 240,000 of these individuals are in a health coverage gap. They are uninsured and ineligible for existing health insurance programs. Currently these folks are not eligible for Medicaid at all.
Virginia lawmakers could close the coverage gap by taking the option offered to states to increase Medicaid eligibility for most adults. With Medicaid expansion, they would be eligible for comprehensive health coverage including medically necessary transportation services so they can get to their medical appointments.
Virginia lawmakers could close the coverage gap by taking the option offered to states to increase Medicaid eligibility for most adults. With Medicaid expansion, they would be eligible for comprehensive health coverage including medically necessary transportation services so they can get to their medical appointments.
