State Funding Cuts in Transportation Expected to Shut Down Much-Needed Services Across Maine

A $600,000 cut will mean a loss of $1.2 million in federal matching funds - "devastating" transportation services in state

AUGUSTA (March 31, 2003) - Gov. Baldacci's plan to cut $600,000 in MaineCare transportation funds - triggering a loss of $1.2 million more in federal matching Medicaid funds - will collapse the human service transportation network throughout Maine, transportation providers said.

A coalition of nine transportation providers across Maine is urging the governor and the Legislature to restore funding to keep the system intact.

"The ripple effect of this budget cut will be devastating to the most vulnerable Mainers who need these essential transportation services in a rural state such as ours," said Connie Garber of the York County Community Action Corp. "Pre-school children, mentally retarded adults, the physically disabled, the elderly, will all have their transportation eliminated."

Since learning of the proposed cuts, full-service MaineCare transportation providers have been working with key staff at state agencies such as the Bureau of Medical Services to identify revenue generation and alternative cost savings options. But it is clear that a $1.8 million loss could not be absorbed, resulting in a significant reduction in critical services, she said.

MaineCare service providers include: Penquis CAP, Washington Hancock Community Agency, Waldo Country Committee for Social Action, Coastal Trans, Kennebec Valley CAP, Community Concepts, Western Maine Transportation Services, Regional Transportation Program and York County Community Action Corporation.

Gov. Baldacci's budget proposal initially sought cuts of $1 million in state transportation funding. If the $600,000 cut goes through, a $400,000 transfer of other state human services dollars would be lost as well because it was contingent upon sustaining the transportation infrastructure that is currently in place.

The impact of the cuts includes:

• Maine will be out of compliance with the Federal mandate to assure non-emergency medical transportation for all recipients.
  
• With the collapse of the statewide human services transportation network, the state of Maine will also be out of compliance with court ordered child welfare mandates.
  
• More than 40,000 children, elderly and the most vulnerable among us will not be able to access critical services. These include dialysis, childcare, mental health, cancer treatments and other essential services.
  
• The $600,000+ cut in State funds translates into a total loss of $1.8+ per annum when combined with federal matching funds.
  
• The system depends on a coordinated infrastructure where damage to one part negatively impacts the whole.

"The only way to keep the system intact would be to have the lawmakers restore the transportation funding," said Linda Belfiore of Washington Hancock Community Agency.

The immediate impact of the funding cuts is expected to be a dramatic decrease in the number of agency vehicles available to provide services since transportation providers are already operating at a loss on MaineCare services, she said. Some agencies also will no longer be able to afford to operate volunteer driver programs. Statewide, more than 1,000 volunteers use their own vehicles to provide 7,000 or more essential rides each week to those in need.

This decreased capacity will compound the overall reductions, as current customer service demands could not continue to be met.

"Following this scenario to its logical conclusion, full service transportation providers may be forced to close their doors," Belfiore said. "This would leave wheelchair van and taxi services as the remaining transport options for MaineCare recipients without a car, at a higher per unit cost, with no full service transportation provider to arrange any trips."

She said MaineCare providers are committed to working with state agencies to develop further cost saving measures if the deep budget cuts can be restored.

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MaineCare Full Service Transportation Providers

Penquis Community Action Program ö The Lynx(Penobscot/Piscataquis)
Sharon Eaton, Transportation Director 973-3686

Washington Hancock Community Agency
Linda Belfiore, Transportation Director 664-2424 x4410

Waldo County Committee for Social Action
Ed Murphy, Transportation Director 1-800-439-7865

CoastalTrans(Rockland-Belfast area)
Lee Karker, Executive Director 596-6477

Kennebec Valley Community Action Program(Kennebec & Somerset)
Jim Wood, Transportation Director 859-1564

Community Concepts (Lewiston/Auburn region)
Wayne Van Blood, Transportation Director 795-6073, x2113

Western Maine Transportation Services
Eugene Skibitsky, General Manager 1-800-339-9687

Regional Transportation Program(Cumberland County)
Jon McNulty, Executive Director 1-800-244-0704, x12

York County Community Action Corp.
Connie Garber, Transportation Director 324-5762, x9030