About the Data: Percent of Medicaid Population That Have Adequate Transportation and Access to Needed Destinations

Data Description

Data Source(s):
Tribal transportation surveys and Medicaid analytics.

Used on Prior EBCI THIP:
No

Measure Definition:
Percent of Medicaid population who reported having adequate transportation to medical appointments or destinations needed for daily living.

Baseline (Annual):
2022: 93%

Target:
No target set due to the lack of historical data.

Target-Setting Method:
Not applicable.

Numerator Details:

Number of Medicaid-eligible individuals who reported having adequate transportation.

Denominator Details:

Total Medicaid-eligible population.

Comparable National Data:

Unknown

Data Collection Frequency:

No consistent data collection schedule established; data provided only for 2022.

Story Behind the Curve

The 2022 data shows that 93% of Medicaid-eligible individuals within the EBCI community reported having adequate transportation to medical appointments or essential destinations. This high percentage highlights the effectiveness of existing transportation services within the community, such as Tribal Transit and Medicaid-funded non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT).

However, the absence of historical or comparative data makes it challenging to assess trends or measure progress. Efforts have focused on building infrastructure to ensure that transportation needs are consistently met. Challenges such as remote living conditions, lack of public transit options, and limited vehicle access in some areas of the Qualla Boundary persist, underscoring the need for ongoing evaluation and improvement.

Partners

Efforts to ensure adequate transportation for the Medicaid population involved collaboration among:

• EBCI Tribal Transportation: Provided essential transportation services and helped gather relevant data for Medicaid transportation needs.
• EBCI Public Health and Human Services (PHHS): Coordinated with Medicaid providers to support non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT).
• Medicaid Providers: Supported transportation services for eligible individuals.

What Worked

1. Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT):
   Medicaid funding for transportation services ensured that individuals could access medical care consistently.

2. Tribal Transit Services:
   Accessible transit options within the Qualla Boundary helped address transportation barriers for the community.

3. High Community Coverage:
   The reported 93% adequacy rate reflects the success of current systems in meeting transportation needs for a large majority of Medicaid-eligible individuals.

Strategy

The strategies employed to ensure adequate transportation and access to needed destinations included:

1. Utilizing Medicaid-Funded Transportation Services:

   • Provided non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) to Medicaid-eligible individuals.
   • Ensured transportation was available for medical appointments and essential errands.

2. Enhancing Tribal Transit Services:

   • Coordinated with Tribal Transportation to provide accessible transit options within the Qualla Boundary.

3. Data Collection:

   • Gathered data on Medicaid-eligible individuals’ transportation needs to assess adequacy and identify gaps.

Although only one year of data is available, these strategies reflect the community’s commitment to addressing transportation as a key social determinant of health.