New non-emergency medical transportation service coming to St. Louis County

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Public Health & Human Services Dept. • 320 West Second Street, Suite 605 • Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2096 • www.stlouiscountymn.gov

Linnea Mirsch
Director

NEWS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
December 4, 2018

CONTACT: Dusty Letica, Financial Assistance Division Director

218-726-2021

 

Public meetings set regarding change in non-emergency medical transportation services

The new year will bring a change for those of the 42,000 Medical Assistance recipients in St. Louis County who access non-emergency medical transportation services. Beginning January 1, 2019, the county will contract with Medical Transportation Management (MTM) for these services. Currently, it’s county financial services staff who are responsible for coordinating rides to and from medical appointments and authorizing necessary reimbursements. The change is expected to improve service for the people who use it, while freeing up county staff for other work.

 

MTM, which already provides non-emergency medical transportation services in 13 other counties in Minnesota, will host two community meetings to answer questions about their services and what people need to do to schedule them. The meetings will be:

 

Monday, December 10

5:30-8:30 p.m.

Northland Office Building, 3rd floor – Liz Prebich Room

307 1st Street South, Virginia

 

and

 

Tuesday, December 11

5-8 p.m.

Government Service Center, 2nd floor – Lake Superior Room

320 W 2nd Street, Duluth

 

Anyone who is eligible for Medical Assistance can request these transportation services. In 2017, county staff coordinated 13,000 trips for medical care. 

 

MTM offers a wide spectrum of services that help clients improve health outcomes, promote independence, reduce costs and increase satisfaction. People eligible for non-emergency medical transportation services will be given one phone number to call to arrange any of their medical transportation needs. The call center is available 24/7 and has an average wait time of less than 30 seconds. MTM also offers a web portal that medical providers and facilities can use to set-up rides for their qualifying patients. The organization plans to have a web portal available for individual use soon. 

 

Anyone with questions who is unable to attend one of the meetings should talk with their assigned financial worker to learn more. Additional information will be mailed in the coming weeks to all people eligible for this service.

 

###