Patients Accessing Health Care Services
Health care services for the general population are primarily funded through the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. The largest programs are the insurance-type programs that cover health care services: Medicaid and Medicare. Another significant program is the funding of Health Center Programs that provide services at no cost to qualified individuals and families. The Dept. of Veterans Affairs serves military veterans’ health care needs (see NCMM’s web page on VA health care transportation.)
Identifying the value of transportation
Begin with the mission of the CCAM-funded agency and ask, “How can transportation access contribute to the success of that mission?” For agencies serving those seeking health care, the importance of transportation may be tied to one or more of these value statements, which can serve as starting discussion points:
When patients have access to transportation, . . .
- They can attend all recommended appointments and services leading to better health outcomes.
- They can spend more time with their healthcare team and have better rapport with their providers, their providers can gain a greater understanding of their medical conditions, and patients are likely to be more satisfied with their experience with the provider, making it a relationship they want to maintain.
- They can immediately seek services for acute and/or serious health conditions, they become less reliant on more costly emergency health services as a medical safety net.
- Health care providers are able to adhere to scheduled appointments knowing that they will have fewer no-shows due to transportation issues.
Program Listing
Below is a detailed description of programs relating to health care services. Each listing contains what type of transportation support is allowable, a brief program description, and ways for both mobility management professionals and program staff from other agencies to connect.
Table of Contents
Listing Key
Direct Support
Funding for transportation on an individual basis. This includes things like transit passes or gas vouchers.
Direct Service
Program staff provide transportation services directly or can contract for services.
Local Match Eligible
Program’s funds can be used as federal match to FTA transportation grants or other federal programs.
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
Program Description:
Community health workers (CHWs) can play an integral role in helping health care organizations achieve health equity. CHWs are frontline health workers who are members or have a deep understanding of the communities they serve. Well-developed CHW programs address both the clinical and nonclinical needs of patients and clients, especially within organizations that aim to support vulnerable populations. CHWs can help health care organizations improve health care quality, reduce provider burden, and strengthen relationships and trust within the communities for which they provide care. Learn more about CHWs in this 2021 brief and this description.
Distribution of funds:
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)’s CY24 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for the first time allows Medicare payment for services performed by community health workers. As an alternative, states may elect to utilize CHWs when designing their Medicaid programs. Section 1115 Demonstrations are another avenue that states originally used to cover CHWs. CMS Integrated Care Teams in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) often include CHWs as case managers, care coordinators, and health care navigators, as well as in other capacities.
Transportation Supports:
CHW programs are all structured differently. One of the tasks assigned to CHWs may be to provide transportation for individuals to health care. Mobility managers are a natural partner to CHWs.
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Office of Minority Health
Program Description:
Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2Fs) are family-led organizations that support families of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Family Voices provides technical assistance to the F2Fs through the Family Engagement and Leadership in Systems of Care grant, funded through 2028 through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal Child Health Bureau. Each F2F is staffed by highly skilled, knowledgeable families with first-hand experience of the challenges faced by CYSHCN and their families. These uniquely qualified staff provide critical support to families caring for CYSHCN, particularly families of children with complex needs and those from underserved communities. F2Fs also help healthcare providers, state and federal agencies, and legislators understand and respond to the needs of CYSHCN and their families.
Distribution of funds:
Eligible applicants include public and private entities, including an Indian tribe or tribal organization, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations. The law limits the site of eligible organizations to the 50 States and the District of Columbia. Applicants must have experience related to the “purpose” of the program, the effort must be family-staffed/run, and the effort must have a focus on health for CYSHCN (as defined by the MCH Bureau).
Transportation Supports:
Transportation information can be an important resource to share with Family-to-Family Health Information Centers.
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health Care
Program Description:
The Health Center Program grants fund 1) Community Health Centers; 2) Migrant Health Centers; (3) Health Care for the Homeless; and (4) Public Housing Primary Care Program. Certain funding opportunities may also assist health centers to expand access to primary health care by supporting new access points (i.e., new health centers and sites), expand access to high quality primary care services at existing health centers, and expand primary health care services related to emerging public health issues, including public health emergencies.
FQHCs are outpatient clinics that qualify for specific reimbursement systems under Medicare and Medicaid. FQHCs perform the following: 1) provide a set of comprehensive, high-quality primary care and preventive services regardless of patients’ ability to pay; 2) employ interdisciplinary teams and patient-centric approaches; 3) deliver care coordination and other enabling services that facilitate access to care; 4) collaborate with other providers and programs to improve access to care and community resources.
Distribution of funds:
Project grants are provided to public or private entities, nonprofit private entities including faith-based and community-based organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations that have the capacity to effectively administer the award.
Transportation Support:
Under the topic “What types of services do health centers provide?” the Rural Health Info describes activities as follows: “FQHCs must provide comprehensive primary care and preventative health services for all age groups. Health centers must also provide enabling services, such as case management and transportation services.”
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration
Program Description:
The Special Projects of Regional and National Significance Program (SPRANS) carries out multiple maternal and child health projects. Most applicable programs:
The Community Integrated Service Systems program works to develop and expand home visitation; participation of obstetricians and pediatricians; integrated service delivery systems; maternal and child health centers; services for rural populations; and integrated state and community service systems for children and youth with special health care needs.
The Integrated Maternal Health Services program fosters the development and demonstration of integrated maternal health services models, such as the Maternity Medical Home, which is modeled after the patient-centered medical home. The models developed and demonstrated support comprehensive care for pregnant and postpartum people who experience health disparities and have limited access to basic social and health care services.
The State Maternal Health Innovation program aims to reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity by supporting state-led demonstrations focused on improving maternal health and addressing maternal health disparities through quality services, a skilled workforce, enhanced data quality and capacity, and innovative programming.
Distribution of funds:
Project grants and cooperative agreements are available to the following: public institutions of higher education and hospitals, public nonprofit institutions/organizations, federally recognized Indian Tribal Governments, U.S. Territories and possessions, and private nonprofit institutions/organizations. Eligible entities for the State Maternal Health Innovation program include any domestic public or private entity, including Indian tribes or tribal organizations, as well as domestic faith-based and community-based organizations. Eligible entities for the Integrated Maternal Health Services program include any domestic public or private entity, including Indian tribes or tribal organizations, as well as domestic faith-based and community-based organizations. Refer to the NOFO for individual programs for details.
Transportation Supports:
The approach to these programs may be structured differently by grantees, but transportation may be eligible to be included as a support for accessing services.
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services
Program Description:
Medicaid, the publicly funded health care insurance program for low-income populations, is jointly funded by states and the federal government. Medicaid programs operate under an agreement between a state and the federal government. States must will abide by federal rules and may claim federal matching funds for its program activities. The state plan sets out groups of individuals to be covered, services to be provided, methodologies for providers to be reimbursed, and the administrative activities that are underway in the state. For example, in some states, eligible individuals may be those whose income level is at or below 100% of the federal poverty level; in other states, it may be 200% of the poverty level.
Distribution of funds:
Funds are used to support this centralized clearinghouse.
Transportation Supports:
In 2021, Congress clarified that non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is a statutorily required benefit in relation to state Medicaid programs. In 2023, CMS released new guidance, A Medicaid Transportation Coverage Guide .
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services
Program Description:
Medicare is a government insurance program for qualified Americans age 65 and older. Medicare is structured as Part A (covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility, hospice, lab tests, surgery, home health care), Part B (doctor and other health care providers’ services and outpatient care, durable medical equipment, home health care, and some preventive services), Part C (Medicare Advantage Plan), and Part D (prescription costs).
Distribution of funds:
Eligible individuals enroll in a Medicare plan and use that as their primary insurance. The Medicare program reimburses enrolled providers under published fee arrangements.
Transportation Supports:
Medicare Part B may cover medically necessary transportation ordered by a doctor, and Medicare Part A may cover emergency transportation. However, Medicare Part A and B do not cover non-emergency transportation to and from a doctor’s office. Some Medicare Advantage plans may cover non-emergency transportation to plan-approved locations, such as trips to your doctor’s office or clinic.
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration
Program Description:
The purpose of this program is to serve as a national clearinghouse for information on rural health to support access to healthcare and improve population health in rural communities. It is currently operated out of the University of North Dakota as the Rural Health Information Hub.
Distribution of funds:
Funds are used to support this centralized clearinghouse.
Transportation Supports:
Transportation and rural health are sometimes addressed within the clearinghouse. Mobility managers can contact the center to suggest new resources for the clearinghouse.
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Program Description:
The purpose of this program is to address the opioid overdose crisis by providing resources to states and territories for increasing access to FDA-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder, and for supporting the continuum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services for opioid use disorder and other concurrent substance use disorders. The SOR program also supports the continuum of care for stimulant misuse and use disorders, including for cocaine and methamphetamine. The SOR program aims to help reduce unmet treatment needs and opioid-related overdose deaths across America.
Distribution of funds:
Provides formula grants to states and territories.
Transportation Supports:
Allows for activities supporting access to health care services [includes transportation], including those services provided by federally certified opioid treatment programs or other appropriate health care providers to treat substance use disorders, as well as other public health-related activities, as the State determines appropriate, related to addressing the opioid abuse crisis within the State.
The West Virginia Dept. of Health and Human Resources received SOR grants and partnered with the WV State Transit Association to provide guaranteed transportation anywhere in the state to individuals seeking substance use treatment. Learn more.