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4/11/2022
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MEDIA ADVISORY: House Oversight Committee to hear update on situation regarding transportation company for elderly, disabled
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STATE HOUSE — The House Committee on Oversight is scheduled to meet Wednesday to hear an update on the management of the contract the state has with a vendor that provides transportation to the elderly and Medicaid beneficiaries.
The committee will meet Wednesday, April 13, at the rise of the House (about 4: 30 p.m. in Room 101 on the first floor of the State House.
Since Jan. 1, 2019, Missouri-based Medical Transportation Management has been responsible for coordinating transportation services for Medicaid beneficiaries and individuals over the age of 60 for non-emergency medical services.
The company’s service to the state began as a rocky one, with many complaints that the service has either been delayed or that drivers never showed up.
In December, a driver who worked for Assured Transportation, a subcontractor of MTM, was charged with seven violations, including DUI and driving without a license in the wake of a crash that claimed the life of a 77-year-old woman.
The committee is expected to hear an update from officials of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, including Medicaid Director Kristin Sousa, Medicaid Chief of Staff John Bonin and Medicaid Legal Counsel Jane Morgan.
The committee will also hear from MTM officials, including Vice President of Public Affairs Phil Stalboerger and Rhode Island Program Director Paul Hynes.
The Oversight Committee met several times before the pandemic began to review hundreds of complaints lodged against the vendor. During the hearings, it was revealed that the company would pay a $1-million penalty and agree to future monetary sanctions until all problems have been resolved.
In 2019, the R.I. Division of Public Utilities and Carriers investigated the company due to a complaint filed by a taxi company alleging that MTM conspired with taxi operators to operate outside of their authorized territories and charge illegal rates.
The House Oversight Committee is chaired by Rep. Patricia Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick).
The meeting will be broadcast on Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox Channels 15, and 61, in high definition on Cox Channel 1061, on Full Channel on Channel 15 and on Channel 34 by Verizon subscribers. It will also be live streamed at http://rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx.
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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