Medicaid transportation broker saves $1.25 million

Dutchess County’s non-emergency Medicaid transportation broker, Medical Answering Services, LLC has saved $1.25 million and improved service to residents, County Executive William Steinhaus said Wednesday. Non-emergency medical transportation is a service to Medicaid clients who need to get to medical appointments.

The savings will be a combination of federal, state and local dollars, said Betsy Brockway, director of the county executive’s Health and Human Services Cabinet.

The savings to the county is about $25,000 to $30,000, she said. Brockway said the money was saved through a number of means.

“I would say better management, doing more efficient eligibility, definitely negotiating better pricing for our trips and maximizing the trips to reduce overall costs,” she said.

Medical Answering Services coordinates calls from the medical community about eligible Medicaid clients’ needs for transportation to specific medical appointments and arranges for the transportation through LOOP, taxi or ambulance services.

SOURCE