The Hardin County Board of Supervisors today met with Hardin County Public Health officials, who have identified a great need for community transportation, especially for medical reasons such as getting to a family doctor for preventative care, hospitals for lab tests, imaging, and other related items.
Many community members cannot afford the $30 round trip cost for standard PeopleRides visits, leading to missed appointments. Medicaid provides funding for transportation, but Medicare and private insurance do not. PeopleRides, which serves Hardin County, is struggling with federal funding cuts, leading to cutbacks.
The public health department in Hardin County is not currently asking the county for money but is developing a plan through public health. The plan involves breaking the county into halves with specific days and times for transportation. The goal is to coordinate with clinics and hospitals to align appointments with transportation availability, reducing patient wait times.
The initiative is in its infancy, as potential grant funding is being explored.
