Seniors, disabled appeal to save free bus service

Use of free RIPTA passes subverts reimbursements, causing deficit, says Avedisian

By John Howell
Posted 11/19/15

Mayor Scott Avedisian, who is also chair of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), said Tuesday the agency didn’t start running in the red until LogistiCare took over the scheduling of …

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Seniors, disabled appeal to save free bus service

Use of free RIPTA passes subverts reimbursements, causing deficit, says Avedisian

Posted

Mayor Scott Avedisian, who is also chair of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), said Tuesday the agency didn’t start running in the red until LogistiCare took over the scheduling of transportation services for Medicaid recipients.

While LogistiCare uses RIPTA for services, Avedisian and RIPTA Executive Director Raymond Studley believe many people are discouraged from scheduling rides for medical appointments and other services because of the hassle. Instead, they use their free bus passes.

LogistiCare was awarded a $24 million contract in 2014 to coordinate operations in Rhode Island in early 2014. That was a financial turning point for RIPTA.

“We went into a deficit,” Avedisian said. RIPTA ran in the red by $3.5 million last year. Free ridership also increased by 40 percent, he said.

Now, in an effort to balance its budget, RIPTA is examining elimination of the free service for the elderly and disabled and basically implementing 50-percent discounted fares for those riders.

On Tuesday afternoon, the first of 12 public hearings on the proposed fares was held in Warwick City Council Chambers. Opposition was voiced to the proposal from the Senior Agenda Coalition, Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, Ocean State Council for Independent Living, Trudeau Memorial Center, Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser of Temple Sinai, as well as users of the service.

“You may think of it as a privilege, but I think it’s a necessity,” Louis Pinga said of free bus service.

Pinga said he is disabled and questioned if the free service was to be eliminated whether he would be “grandfathered in” since his pass doesn’t expire until 2020. He said the service enables people to obtain basic services, get to markets to buy food and be interactive with other people.

Goldwasser said 10,500 low-income, disabled persons and 3,250 low-income seniors rely on no-fare passes every day to visit doctors and shops and make trips for everyday needs. He said studies show that, on average, seniors using the passes make 31 one-way trips monthly, while disabled riders average 39 trips a month.

“The current proposal to change passes to $1 per one-way trip plus 50 cents per transfer threatens passengers who cannot afford an additional $30 to $40 to their monthly budget just to be able to keep a doctor appointment, go to church or buy food,” he said.

Kristin Shakan of the Trudeau Center feared that many group home residents who work one or two days a week would give up their jobs without free bus service. Further, she said, elimination of the free passes would “take away the independence” clients are now enjoying.

William Flynn of the Senior Agenda Coalition said studies find that 40 percent of those with free passes won’t use the bus if fares are put in place. He also said that studies show that interaction serves to prolong lives.

“If they have transportation, they can stay connected to other people,” he said. “Isolation leads to poor health and a shorter lifespan.”

In a telephone interview prior to Tuesday’s hearing, Flynn said he feels RIPTA has already made a decision to scuttle the free fare program implemented 20 years ago.

“They have made up their minds already, so now we just want to get the stories out there with these meetings. Without these passes, these people won’t be able to afford the fare, and this is going to lead to these people becoming more isolated, which can be a concern for their mental and physical health. If they continue to go forward with this, we will be moving to legislative actions,” he said.

Yet Flynn acknowledged at the hearing the need for RIPTA to balance its budget. He urged the use of focus groups and forums to examine ways to retain free service.

LeeAnn Byrne, a social worker and policy director at the Coalition for the Homeless, said the high cost of housing “crowds out money in the household budget for other expenses, especially transportation” for low-income seniors and the disabled.

Byrne said the people the coalition represents are largely not eligible for Medicaid and therefore are not the population that would use LogistiCare. Nonetheless, RIPTA identifies the lack of Medicaid reimbursements as contributing to the deficit.

In its presentation, RIPTA says “non-emergency Medicaid trips are made using the free pass program, preventing RIPTA from receiving federal reimbursement.” The presentation also notes the increase of free rides and says “the program is not adequately funded and is not sustainable.”

Barbara Polichetti, RIPTA spokeswoman, said the authority provided 5.6 million free trips in 2014, about a fourth of all trips made for the year. Under the proposal, only the free program would be impacted. Cash fares would be $1 and a number of packages are proposed, including a monthly pass for $35. Seniors and persons with disabilities would be eligible for the reduced fares with proof of age or disability. The present system of income eligibility would not be required.

LogistiCare offices in Hartford and in Rhode Island did not return calls. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which executed the contract with LogistiCare, was researched questions relative to transportation requests coordinated, the impact of free passes and reimbursements to RIPTA for services rendered to Medicaid recipients.

Michael Raia, spokesman for EOHHS, said that LogistiCare is paid on a per member per month basis for the services used. He said all Medicaid recipients are eligible for transportation services and that LogistiCare schedules about 6,000 rides daily.

In an email prior to Tuesday’s hearing, Avedisian wrote: “I am sure that there will be many people who will attend a series of forums to discuss the fare study that RIPTA has undertaken. I assure you that a decision has not been made and that all members of the board will be diligent in listening to the concerns that are brought up at these meetings. I know that the goal here is to make RIPTA’s budget balanced and we will continue to work toward that end.”

(With reports from Kelcy Dolan)

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