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29 <br /> Chapter 1: Current Conditions <br /> Transportation for the Department of Social Services serves low-income, transit-dependent, <br /> and Medicaid-eligible participants. Potential users must determine their eligibility for <br /> transportation under Medicaid or Work First with the Department of Social Services prior to <br /> contacting OPT. <br /> Department of Social Services/Medicaid <br /> The Department of Social Services (DSS) administers the Non-Emergency Medical <br /> Transportation program (NEMT) for Orange County. It uses federal funding through the NC <br /> Department of Health and Human Resources to provide transportation for Medicaid eligible <br /> (very low income) persons to Medicaid-funded medical services if they have no other way to <br /> access these services. In Orange County, OPT is the provider of these services under an <br /> agreement with the DSS at a cost to the NEMT program of$12.75 per trip. The demand <br /> response service characteristics are the same for these trips with a two-day advance <br /> reservation requirement. The capacity for same-day service is required by the NEMT <br /> program.Assistance is provided to those who need it for door-to-door transportation. <br /> Department of Social Services/Employment Transportation Assistance Program <br /> (Work First) <br /> Using the same demand responsive transportation model, OPT uses state funding (NCDOT <br /> funding at ioo%) for employment trips for low-income individuals. Eligibility is determined <br /> through the Department of Social Services. In this case there is both an eligibility <br /> requirement and a trip purpose restriction, so the service is really more specialized than <br /> general, but it is offered as part of the demand response program. <br /> Department on Aging/Senior Center Transportation <br /> The Orange County Department on Aging uses Home and Community Care Block Grant <br /> (HCCBG) funding to provide transportation Monday-Friday to and from two Orange County <br /> Senior Centers which also serve as nutrition sites. The daily, subscription transportation <br /> transports residents who are age 6o or above to two senior centers, Seymour Senior Center <br /> (in Chapel Hill) and Central Orange Senior Center (in Hillsborough). There is no fare for <br /> these trips, though users can make a donation. OPT is paid $6.8o per trip by the Department <br /> on Aging. The service is provided on a subscription basis; seniors desiring service call the <br /> Senior Center and are referred to OPT. Subscription routes are also open to other OPT <br /> demand response trips but are generally focused on the needs of those going to the senior <br /> centers. <br /> KFH <br /> NCDOT Orange County 13 <br /> Transit Assessment Study <br />