Blog Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research

Transforming Healthcare in Missouri, IX: Medicaid transportation benefit as a driver of health

Written by Mo Farrell, LMSW, Manager, Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research, Institute for Public Health


Panelists discuss non-emergency medical transportation

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) is a vital Medicaid benefit, as many Missouri
residents rely on it to access the health care they need. This was the topic of the recent Transforming Healthcare in Missouri, Part IX event – presented by WashU’s Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research.

Missouri’s NEMT broker, MTM, engaged with about 50 attendees including WashU faculty,
Missouri Medicaid agency leadership and staff, and numerous stakeholders from Missouri health-care organizations, including front-line clinical staff, faced with navigating the NEMT system and its challenges on behalf of their patients.

Andrea Barton Reeves, the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Social Services, set the stage with a keynote presentation. She spoke about the critical role of transportation for Medicaid participants and energized the audience with a national take on the topic. Her keynote was followed with a local panel moderated by Center co-Director. Karen Joynt Maddox, MD, MPH. The panel presented different vantage points: a Medicaid managed care payer, a rural hospital leader, a social worker managing staff who facilitate rides for Medicaid participants receiving life-sustaining treatments, and an NEMT service provider. Panelists included:

• Jamie Bruce, CEO of United Healthcare Community Plan

• Jana Cook, Senior Vice President & CFO of Phelps Health

• Janelle Donjon, Manager of Social Services, WashU

• Steve Newman, Owner of 360 Care and Transport Services

After the panel, MTM CEO and WashU alumna, Alaina Macia shared more information about the NEMT broker role as well as MTM data. Center Associate Director Abigail Barker, PhD provided a brief policy overview. The diverse stakeholders who attended the event then shared their unique perspectives in facilitated breakout discussions. The event’s discussions will ultimately be summarized in a white paper highlighting prominent policy themes and actionable ideas.

The center’s Transforming Healthcare in Missouri series brings together stakeholders from across the state including health-care providers, payers, consumers, researchers, economists, advocates, and policymakers to generate and discuss ideas for healthcare reform in Missouri. We call attention to big-picture policy themes that are informed by and address specific and granular problems and concerns. Each event centers patients and health equity while considering feasibility and cost-effectiveness. Transforming Healthcare in Missouri events have led to the publication of a series of nonpartisan, evidence-based policy considerations encompassing several health care topics.