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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> Action Agenda <br /> G <br /> I tern No �- <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: February 5, 1996 <br /> SUBJECT: Implementation of Co-Payment for Orange Public Transportation <br /> Medical Transportation Service <br /> -------------------------------- ------------------------------- <br /> DEPARTMENT Aging PUBLIC HEARING YES NO x <br /> -------------------------------- ------------------------------- <br /> ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT <br /> Jerry M. Passmore <br /> TELEPHONE NUMBER <br /> Hillsborough 732-8181 <br /> Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br /> Mebane 227-2031 <br /> Durham 688-7331 <br /> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- <br /> PURPOSE: <br /> To request permission to implement a co-payment for medical <br /> transportation for users of the NCDOT-funded Elderly and Disabled <br /> Transportation Assistance Program. <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> In 1989 the North Carolina General Assembly established the Elderly and <br /> Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (EDTAP) to assist small <br /> transit systems across the state with operational costs. The Orange <br /> County Human Services Transportation Board designated these funds <br /> primarily for medical transportation purposes. As costs and demands <br /> increased the Board revised its decision to use EDTAP funds exclusively <br /> for medical trips. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995 Orange <br /> Public Transportation (OPT) provided 5,402 medical trips, twice the <br /> number projected for the state EDTAP program. Cost overruns were <br /> covered by a combination of lapsed salaries and underutilization in <br /> other programs. In the first six months of FY 95-96 medical trips <br /> provided have been 101% (2,603 trips) of the state funded EDTAP goal of <br /> 2,590 trips. At the current cost of $12.25 per trip, the additional <br /> EDTAP Program expense is projected to be $31,887 for the remainder of <br /> FY 95-96. <br /> In anticipation of continued program demand, the Transportation Board <br /> and staff began to study alternatives in November, 1994 . An intensive <br /> review of the program' s riders and destinations was conducted. Appeals <br /> were made to medical service providers to contribute toward the costs. <br />