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2018 SESSION

18103698D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 109
Offered January 10, 2018
Prefiled January 10, 2018
Requesting the Department of Medical Assistance Services to study transportation for individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems. Report.
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Patron-- Gooditis
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, accessible and affordable transportation is vital to enable individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems to maintain independence and travel to and from employment, day programs, medical appointments, and other appointments; and

WHEREAS, currently, individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems, particularly individuals who are not receiving services under the state plan for medical assistance services, have little access, and in some cases no access, to affordable transportation; and

WHEREAS, in the instances in which individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems are able to secure transportation, such individuals have consistently reported many troubling issues associated with the transportation services, including providers arriving late or failing to show up for a scheduled trip, a lack of consistency in drivers for regularly scheduled trips, inefficient and time-consuming routes, and a general lack of communication between providers and the individuals receiving transportation services; and

WHEREAS, an intensive review of such transportation services and the problems associated therewith by the Department of Medical Assistance Services, with assistance from other relevant stakeholders, will help to better meet the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems and ensure compliance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Department of Medical Assistance Services be requested to study transportation for individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems.

In conducting its study, the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall (i) identify the current transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems in the Commonwealth; (ii) determine the extent to which these needs are being met; (iii) identify reoccurring problems associated with such state-funded transportation services, including providers arriving late or failing to show up for a scheduled trip, a lack of consistency in drivers for regularly scheduled trips, inefficient and time-consuming routes, and a general lack of communication between providers and the individuals receiving transportation services; (iv) analyze the cost of expanding state-funded transportation services to cover individuals who have a mental illness or substance abuse problems and are not receiving assistance under the state plan for medical assistance; (v) gather and consider input from all relevant stakeholders regarding such transportation needs and strategies for improving the Commonwealth's transportation services for individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems; and (vi) make recommendations regarding strategies, policies, or programs that the Commonwealth can utilize to better meet the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems, including establishing partnerships with ride-sharing companies.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department of Medical Assistance Services for this study, upon request.

The Department of Medical Assistance Services shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2018, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2019 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.