Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) remains one of the largest obstacles patients face in accessing
health care service. According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, annual studies show that
transportation disadvantaged populations suffer a higher prevalence of single or multiple health conditions
when compared to the general population and higher and costly hospital re-admission rates. Meanwhile, funding
from the State of Maryland for transit services has been flat, demand for services has increased, and there is
little program coordination outside of a county or region. To address this issue, the Rural Maryland Council and
the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland will host three roundtable discussions to collect information on
existing programs, identify gaps in services, and make recommendations on policy changes. At the end of the
roundtables, a report will be compiled and delivered to Maryland State administration officials and Maryland
General Assembly legislative leaders. As a part of this project, the organizations developed and released a
survey. Residents are welcome to complete the survey at: https://uah.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_249zhcsAez3j8Gy?jfefe=new.
The roundtables will be held in person and by Zoom teleconference. Since each meeting builds on information
previously received, it is recommended to attend all three meetings. The first meeting inventories NEMT current
programs and seeks common definitions; the second meeting analyzes these perceptions and synthesizes them
into possible concepts; and the third meeting will translate the preferred ideas into concepts. Attendees will
guide conclusions by providing interactive feedback during the meetings.
Meeting locations and dates are scheduled:
- September 29, 2022: Delmarva Community Services, Cambridge, MD from 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
- October 25, 2022: Rocky Gap Casino Resort, Flintstone, MD from 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
- November 17, 2022: Maryland Department of Agriculture, Annapolis, MD from 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
To register to attend, visit the link: https://rural.maryland.gov/events/medical-healthcare-transportationroundtables/.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the roundtables, contact TCCSMD Regional Transit Coordinator Yolanda Hipski at yhipski@tccsmd.org.
