The Mississippi State Department of Health issued the following statement.
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is proud to announce the new program, Transportation to Health. Addressing transportation barriers in both rural and urban areas is a step in the right direction toward moving Mississippi up!
Beginning November 1, 2023, this new federal-grant funded demonstration program will provide patient transportation to and from county health departments and offices for health services. In addition, patients will have the opportunity to pick up prescriptions at partnering pharmacies if they were prescribed during their health department appointment.
State Health Officer Dr. Edney explains, “Improving and protecting the health of all Mississippians is the mission of our agency. This new program will assist us in achieving the mission. Creating access to health care is always the best choice.”
For new or existing appointments, patients will contact the MSDH call center at 855-767-0170 to request transportation. The Office of Health Equity will coordinate an Uber ride at no cost to the patient, and no need to download the app.
“Transportation to Health can eliminate delayed or missed appointments by the most vulnerable people in Mississippi,” said Victor D. Sutton, Chief of Community Health and Clinical Services at the Mississippi State Department of Health. “With Mississippi being a rural state, this initiative will also allow the opportunity for community and economic development by creating jobs. Uber will support MSDH in creating a plan to support driver availability within the program service area,” he said.
For more information about the new Transportation to Health program, visit HealthyMS.com/rides.
Follow MSDH by email and social media at
HealthyMS.com/connect
13 comments:
Great in theory but will be grossly abused. Basically a free ride to anywhere you want to go that's near a healthcare provider.
Why is the state subsidizing the richest population of the state, the doctors. Why don’t the docs pay for this, no make the little man the taxpayers in the poorest state in the union pay for this service. Good work, cudos to the medical lobby in poorest state in the union.
For years, private contractors have been hauling 'disadvantaged' people all over the state as well as to Memphis and Birmingham, for appointments and billing the federal government for payment authorized by grants. Stand outside the receiving doors of any Jackson hospital or service provider and watch them unload. They're paid handsomely.
Why, now, does the state government decide to get into the business of messing with it?
I've seen vans all over the Delta with Bennie Thompson's name on them hauling people here and there for 'services'.
They will haul one person in a van from Rolling Fork to Tupelo, then return her to Rolling Fork and then head to Cleveland to pick up another one to take her to the same hospital....when they could have transported both on one trip. But, the mileage being charged is much greater the way they do it.
Feds fund this program. In other words, it's free money.
@ 5:09, Just wait til Brandon Presley gets in office.
MS keeps voting “against big government” and keeps depositing the checks! Rave on Tater Tot !
To the Presley supporter at 5:54 - Please state clearly what you're attempting to say.
this state survives off suckling the federal teet !
and the state leaders bitch about the swamp in DC as they enjoy the federal $$
They will be utilizing Uber drivers. Look it up.
"Free money"..."free ride" - no.
"Taxpayer funded money" - yes.
Really innovative idea. Disrupt the horrible medical transportation company in the state that has been skimming all this money for medical transportation and delivering a horrible product.
Now it can happen through Uber which gives patients better choices. Then, in more rural communities, instead of these same transportation companies sucking up that money, local people can sign up to give ride and it keeps those dollars in that local community.
I am curious why a “Federal Program “ would only pay for UBER to transport. It is very vague what agency funded the grant. I use LYFT in Jackson so why are they or any other transportation company precluded. There is something fishy about this “Grant”. Come on Kingfish is time for FOI of a copy of the “Grant”.
I'm not sure how I feel about this. It would be great to help anybody get to/from medical apts and to pick up meds. But I'm old and the idea of getting into a Uber is terrifying. I don't know what the answer would be. My family justs helps each other out. If 1 needs help getting to/from apt, another one will take some time off from work. But I know not everybody has that option. It would be nice if they would use taxi/cab companies too.
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