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Last year, nearly 132,000 Medicaid clients were served by the state’s Medical Transportation Program, which arranges and provides for transportation for Medicaid-eligible clients to and from health-care services allowable under Medicaid through contracts with local public transportation providers. Created in 1974, the Medical Transportation Program had been administered by the Texas Department of Human Services and then was moved to the Texas Department of Health in 1994 where it has since been.
During the last legislative session, with an approximate $10 billion budget shortfall at hand, the legislature put great emphasis on identifying duplication of services between state agencies and creating efficiencies where available. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is the state agency that has regulatory authority over and the responsibility to provide public transportation systems in the state. In an effort to reduce overlapping services and create efficiencies, the $29.4 million Medical Transportation Program and its staff, which includes169 positions, became part of TxDOT as of March 1.
Texans who rely on this program will see no interruption or change of service as a result of the transfer. To request non-emergency medical transportation services, users call the same toll-free number, 1-877-MED-TRIP (1-877-633-8747.) This number has not changed. Eligible recipients must have a current Medicaid identification card and must have no other means of transportation. Clients of the Children with Special Health Care Needs and the Transportation for Indigent Cancer Patients programs are also eligible for the service.
On another note, TxDOT is once again offering students an opportunity to work in the department's engineering and maintenance fields through its Summer Employment Program. The program gives students a head start in establishing career credentials with on-the-job experience, while fostering their professional growth and development. The program is open to students age 17 and older enrolled in high schools, technical schools, colleges and universities.
Applications for the May 1 through August 31 summer enrollment period are currently being accepted. If a student you know is interested, a copy of the program requirements and application may be found online at ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/hrd/sumapp.pdf. For details on which districts, divisions and offices will have summer positions available, you can call the local TxDOT office at (903) 892-6529 or TxDOT's Employment Center at (512) 416-2994.
Please feel free to contact me if I may be of assistance regarding any matter of state government. You can contact me by writing to P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 or by e-mailing me at larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us.
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