Letter: Health transportation service available

In response to the article “Legislator takes walk to illustrate bus problem,” I want to make readers aware that the Louisiana Medicaid Program provides nonemergency medical transportation for recipients who do not have vehicles or other means of transportation to medical services. Furthermore, Medicaid coverage is available to all pregnant women with household income below 200 percent of the poverty level. Because of the importance of early prenatal care, DHH prioritizes the processing of these applications.

Whether a Medicaid or LaCHIP enrollee receives their health services through a Bayou Health Plan or our legacy Medicaid Program, they can arrange for medical transportation to appointments at the new Woman’s Hospital, which was the health-care facility highlighted in the article. If a Medicaid or LaCHIP recipient needs transportation to a medical appointment, they can contact their Bayou Health Plan or the First Transit Call Center at [phone] for assistance in arranging for this service.

Additionally, since CATS is in the process of restructuring its operations, now is an opportune time for their management to engage with city, state and local health-care leaders and determine how to better match routes to frequently needed services. DHH stands ready to work with the Legislature and local officials to ensure continued access to health-care services in the Baton Rouge area.

Bruce D. Greenstein

secretary

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

Comments

1) Comment by yardeggs - 28/01/2013

Only patient statements. Any patient who is late or doesn't show gets a phone call. When questioned, frequently their response is that "transportation didn't show up". Also, many will call and tell us transportation is running 30 minutes to an hour behind. This service is just as unreliable as CATS. I actually haven't heard this lately, so it may be that most of our patients have given up on using the service.

2) Comment by TLS - 24/01/2013

yardeggs I find your comment interesting. Do you have any facts that back up your statemtent that it is the transportation services fault for these "no shows".

3) Comment by yardeggs - 24/01/2013

Dear Bruce, I work for an ObGyn office directly behind Woman's Hospital. Your transportation service is notoriously unreliable. These patients are almost never on time, and frequently don't show up. Sincerely, Ob RN

4) Comment by mh1949 - 24/01/2013

Can I and my wife get a free ride to our many Dr. appointments ? It would surely save us a lot of gas money so we could buy another $500 I-phone or some 24s for our truck.

5) Comment by [e-mail] - 24/01/2013

Must have been a sidewalk there.

6) Comment by 8point6 - 24/01/2013

CATS needs to add more tint to the bus windows. I can still see how empty these buses are.

7) Comment by Bighug - 24/01/2013

I agree with phil about the taxi ride. But things are looking up for CATS. I saw a bus a few weeks ago with two passengers in it. Ridership must be increasing.

8) Comment by phil - 23/01/2013

I would be for the one child rule. One child and you get government help, but after that any additional children result in a 10 percent CUT in free government services. Concerning CATS, compare the per person cost of door-to-door service with CATS with the cost of a taxi ride. If you want to get somewhere in a hurry, I think to expect any public bus system to do that is just asking for way too much.

9) Comment by tradewinns - 23/01/2013

more for the "poor". what is their incentive to better themselves? they are provided anything and everything they need from food to medical care to free toys and babysitting for their kids. they'll lose most of it by working. taxpayers need to insist the government cut all welfare services by 10% every year (except for the mentally/physically impared and those already 65 & over). when they figure out their "income" is declining and they either have to get a job or do without-like regular folk- lets see how far they will allow themselves to fall.