GREENE COUNTY MAY REDUCE TRANSPORATION SERVICES For Release: Feb. 1, 2012 Contact: Elizabeth Menhart, Communications Director/Tourism (724-852-5210)
WAYNESBURG, PA — Greene County Commissioners announced at their Feb. 1 agenda meeting that, due to spending cuts by the state Department of Public Welfare, the county may be forced to reduce its Medical Assistance Transportation Program services beginning April 1.
The commissioners this week mailed a letter to the state’s Division of Medical Assistance Transportation expressing disappointment over the July funding cut and notifying the state of the imminent service reduction. After the funding decrease, the county was left with $866,357 to operate the MATP until June 30, the end of the program’s fiscal year.
If we continue to operate our Medical Assistance Transportation Program under the funding cuts imposed by the state, we would end up almost $300,000 in debt by the end of June,” said Commissioner Pam Snyder, chair of the Board of Commissioners. “At this time, we have no choice but to limit ridership, if the state continues on this path and these funding cuts continue to hold."
Last July, the state trimmed nearly $400,000 from the county’s MATP allocation. The state also reduced mileage reimbursement rates from 27 cents a mile to 12 cents a mile for consumers who arrange their own transportation to and from medical appointments. In addition to mileage reimbursement, the county also coordinates and provides bus trips to and from medical appointments or for authorized medical services to consumers who qualify for Medical Assistance.
Effective April 1, only those consumers who receive cancer treatment, dialysis or prenatal care will be eligible for transportation services or mileage reimbursement. In January, the county had already begun reducing more long-distance trips and reassessing each consumer’s mode of transportation, realizing some savings but not enough to prevent a significant shortfall.
For more information or questions about program changes, call the Transportation office at 724-627-6778 or toll-free at 1-877-360-7433.
For general information, please contact the Information Services at 724-852-5399 / Toll Free: 1-888-852-5399. County Office Building, 93 E. High Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
