Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging - OAA Funded Transportation Targets Policy Title III-B Transportation Services
- agrandpre0
- 7 hours ago
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(Agency-Wide Program Policy)
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Purpose and Policy Intent
In response to needs assessment survey results and review of information inquiries related to requests for rides, the Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging (JAAA) establishes medical transportation as the primary service priority for transportation services funded under Title III-B of the Older Americans Act (OAA).
Limited OAA transportation funds are intended to support access to medically necessary care for older adults. This policy establishes transportation service targets that reflect JAAA’s programmatic priorities and funding expectations and are intended to guide provider service delivery, monitoring, and funding decisions.
Transportation Service Targets
Targets for OAA-funded rides provided through JAAA OAA funds are expected to be:
60% medical appointment rides
40% general transportation rides
These targets are not intended to eliminate access to general transportation. Rather, they are intended to ensure that Title III-B transportation funds are primarily directed toward medically necessary rides, consistent with identified community need and documented service demand.
Definition of Medical Appointment Rides
Medical appointment rides are defined as rides to and from medical appointments scheduled with a medically licensed practitioner or facility for the purpose of receiving medically necessary care, including diagnostic and treatment services. The following examples are not intended to be all-inclusive:
Vision services
Hearing services
Dental services
Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy
Infusion treatment, including dialysis
Vaccination appointments and clinics
Laboratory work
Diagnostic procedures, tests, and scans
Podiatry appointments
Doctor visits, including primary care and medical specialists
Urgent Care visits
Hospital and Emergency Room visits
Behavioral health care, including crisis services
Trips to a pharmacy for prescription or over-the-counter medication pickup
Definition of General Transportation
General transportation is defined as rides to and from locations for purposes of meeting non-medical needs, including shopping, nutrition, fitness, and social connection. The following examples are not intended to be all-inclusive:
Trips to retail locations for purchasing food or household supplies
Trips to farmers markets
General shopping trips
Trips to senior centers
Trips to CHAMPSS meal sites
Trips to exercise facilities, including gyms and health clubs
Other social or recreational activities, including entertainment
Required Ride Purpose Tracking
Providers shall track and report the purpose of all OAA-funded transportation rides using the following categories established by JAAA:
Medical
Shopping / Basic Needs / Nutrition t
Trips to or from a Senior Center
Social Activities
Provider Performance Monitoring and Accountability
JAAA will monitor provider performance against the established transportation targets on a routine basis using submitted reports, billing data, and monitoring reviews. Providers whose OAA-funded ride distribution materially deviates from the established medical transportation target may be required to:
Submit a written explanation documenting rider demand, community need, geographic considerations, or operational constraints;
Implement a corrective action plan to realign services with established program priorities; and/or
Adjust intake, scheduling, or ride prioritization practices to better support access to medical transportation.
Providers are expected to make good-faith and reasonable efforts to prioritize medical transportation within OAA-funded services. Temporary deviations from the established targets may be permitted when supported by data and approved by JAAA.
Funding Implications
Persistent or unexplained failure to make reasonable efforts to align service delivery with JAAA’s established transportation targets may be considered in:
Contract monitoring findings
Funding allocation or adjustment decisions
Contract renewal, modification, or non-renewal determinations
Future procurement or funding award decisions
JAAA retains discretion to evaluate provider performance holistically, taking into account documented community need, service area characteristics, and operational feasibility.
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