At the July Healthcare Issues Team meeting, Maureen McCarthy and Chris Gray from Whatcom Transportation Authority presented information about an essential, but sometimes overlooked, component of healthcare: how to get to medical appointments, the grocery store, and other places if you have a disability that prevents you from driving or using regular buses. Paratransit is one answer to the challenge.
They discussed the vital role that public transportation, specifically paratransit services, plays in providing healthcare access to the community. They reported that paratransit services were established in 1990 by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The purpose of paratransit services is to assist individuals whose disabilities prevent them from using a standard, fixed route bus system. Paratransit drivers can offer assistance with curbs and doors; however, it is not a dedicated medical transport service and cannot accommodate same-day emergency requests or transport individuals from inside their home to the bus.
There are some other limitations. Physical constraints such as steep slopes, narrow alleys, or long, unpaved driveways can limit the bus’s access to specific homes. Rides must be booked at least one day in advance. Travel times may be long and, in several areas of the county, daily service is not available.
Despite these challenges, WTA paratransit provides approximately 200,000 paratransit rides annually. A significant portion of these rides are for medical and grocery needs. Funding is primarily supported by local sales taxes.
Eligibility for services is determined through application to the Whatcom Authority. Although doctors provide input, they cannot authorize services.
To learn more, view the recording. It can be accessed on the LWVBWC website by clicking on Our Work, then selecting Healthcare, or to view it on YouTube, click
here.
There will be no Healthcare Issues Team meeting in August. Meetings will resume on September 21st. As always, we welcome your thoughts and suggestions for meeting topics.
Meanwhile, enjoy the summer!