Results from Transportation Survey

Southern 38 Counties(Area 4)

What Function Do You Perform?

69.7%

•Of providers in Southern Minnesota provide regular transportation to passengers that are “eligible” for reimbursement

•In line with state average (69.8%)

But, how many of those passengers are being

reimbursed?

• Wide range• 2% - 100%• Unknowns (14)

Percent Number of Respondents

100 2

90 1

70-75 3

50-60 6

40-45 2

20-30 3

2-10 2

Possible Sources of Funding• ICF-MR• Waiver Services• Rehabilitation Services• Medical Assistance• Grants• Fund Raising • Donations• County Reimbursement for over 60

and MA rides• DTH• Medicaid• Contracts (Counties and Agencies)

• Insurance• United Way• Private Pay Donation• Self Pay, Billed Rides• Social Security• Pre-paid Medical Programs• Family Service Agencies• Insurance Companies• Rehab Services• Workforce Centers• Workmen’s Comp.• Adult Day Care• County Human Services

Do you currently have contracts with agencies that reimburse

you for the client rides that you provide?

How many respondents do?

69.6% = So. MN80.8% = State

* 11 respondents skipped this question

Which Agencies?• Part of host county contract• Goodhue Co. Public Health• Lyon Co. Rehab Services• Western Community Action• Counties (in region and out)• Cedar Valley Services Inc.• UCARE• Blue Ride• Medica• Minnesota Valley Action Council

• Western Community Action• DAC• Human Services• Family Services• PIC• County Human Services• Social Services• EW and AC transportation

If you knew that some of your passengers were eligible for

transportation subsidy, would you be interested in participating in a software

“billing system” to recoup that available funding?

68.8%

* 2 respondents skipped this question

Interest in software by region

• Area 4: 68.8%• Area 3: 69.4%• Area 2: 53.8%• Area 1: 50.0%

South and Metro areas show the most interest

What features would you like to see included?

•Ease of operation and accuracy•Simple as possible – easy to navigate & not too time consuming•Direct Deposit•Ease of transition/integration with preexisting software•Info: ridership, address, daily schedule, map, route•All aspects of billing and accounting•Simple and easy•Reporting•Free of charge•Tracking system that would keep track of the details of ride, calculate the totals and submit electronically•Cost saving•Real-time, interactive, web based•Accepts range of dates•Secure but with capability to save data to decrease input time

Reasons for not recouping funding

• “We don’t track individuals names, but rather just count the riders.”

• We’re already funded through MA.• Already reimbursed through fee-for-services from the

state of MN• Multiple responsibilities, time is a big factor• Too few riders• Interested in recouping funding, but not adding another

software program to preexisting system• No funding• “We have contracts”

In your current contracts, is there uniformity in the amount

reimbursed PER MILE?

58.6% say NO!

Current rates for those that answered “yes"

• Don’t charge per mile• IRS Rate• IRS Rate for volunteer

miles• IRS + $0.15 for Admin

($0.735/mile)

• $0.20 per mile• $0.50 per mile• $0.55 per mile• $0.585 per mile• $0.65 - $0.70 per mile• $0.70 per mile• $1.50• $3.11• $7.48

How was this rate determined?

• “Historical average rate for all people served- currently $4.02 per day (no matter if people are driven 1 mile or 20 miles).”

• Set by legislation• Federal Reimbursement Rate• IRS plus administration fees• “Per Month”• “Some have a set rate they pay out to all agencies others are negotiable”• “MA reimburses at IRS rate; UCare and BlueRide have their own rates”• “Set in contract when it came to the office!”• “Based on sliding scale for the Federal Mileage Rate and inflation for

expenses and subsidy from funds.”• “The Department of Human Services rate schedule which permits only

marginal increases provided by COLA increases.”

What mileage rate would you need in order to cover your full costs (please provide amount

needed PER MILE)?

Rate Number of Responses

$0.70 - $0.85 4

$1.00 - $1.15 2

$1.50 - $1.70 2

$2.02 - $2.95 2

$4.41 1

$5.15 1

$10.00 1

IRS + Admin 1

Donation 1

Depends on driver cost 1

Actual cost of a BUS ride per mile

Bus Ride CostsCost in dollars Unit

$0.82 Mile

$1.73 Mile

$2.02 Mile

$2.45 Mile

$3.10 Countywide

$3.52 Mile

$3.57 Mile

$4.00 Mile

34 responses statewideRate Number of Responses

$0 - $0.50 4

$0.82 1

$1.73 - $2.45 7

$2.71 - $3.58 7

$4.00 - $4.38 2

$5.86 1

$6.67 1

Unknown or N/A 10

Variable 1

Administrative Expense Per Mile

• Only 20 responses statewide!• Only 2 responses in area 4!• Low response count.• What does this mean?

Response #1

Response #2

$0.40 $0.17

Statewide Administrative Expense Per MileRate Quantity of Responses

$0.00 - $0.26* 4

$0.30 – $0.50* 3

$0.50 - $0.55 2

$1.12 - $1.20 2

$3.33 1

Unknown 2

Included in Per Mile

* = area 4 responses here

1

Minimum Needed to Cover Cost Per Mile

• 6 responses in Area 4• $0.75 - $4.41

$0.75 $1.90 $2.02 $3.50 $4.00 $4.41

Comparison with state

• 20 responses statewide• Wide range

Minimum needed Number of responses

$0 - $0.89 4

$1.80 - $2.35 5

$3.50 - $4.41 5

$5.86 1

$10 - $22 3

$50 1

Unknown 1

Actual Cost of A VOLUNTEER Driver Per Mile

Rate No. of Responses

$1.00 1

$0.585 1

$0.58 1

$0.555 1

$0.55 3

$0.528 1

$0.40 1

IRS 1

Cost of a VOLUNTEER Driver Per Mile statewide

Rate Number of Responses

$0.50 7

$0.53- $0.59 14

$0.61 1

$0.85 - $0.96 3

$1.00 1

$10.50 1

IRS Rate 2

Unknown, N/A 12

Administrative Expense Per Mile

• 9 responses in area 4!

Rate No. of Responses

$0.10 2

$0.15 1

$0.17 1

$0.20 1

$0.25 1

$0.505 1

$0.62 1

$1.55 1

Statewide Administrative Expenses Per Mile

Rate Number of Responses

$0.00 - $0.25 13

$0.39 - $0.51 4

$0.62 - $0.75 2

$1.40 - $1.55 1

$10.15 1

$16.46 1

N/A 1

Unknown 3

Minimum Needed to Cover Cost Per Mile

Rate No. of Responses

$0.50 1

$0.70 - $0.75 5

$0.80 1

$1.17 1

$2.08 1

Comparison with State

Rate Number of Responses

$0.00 - $0.50 4

$0.55 - $0.75 9

$0.80 - $0.98 6

$1.17 1

$1.99 1

$2.08 1

$17.00 1

$25.00 1

Actual Cost of a WHEEL CHAIR LIFT VEHCILE Ride Per Mile

• 2 numeric responses in area 4

• One essay response: “Same as bus.”

$1.73 $2.02

Statewide ResponsesRate Responses

$0.00 1

$0.34 1

$1.73 1

$1.96 1

$2.02 2

$2.30 1

$3.58 1

$4.38 1

$6.67 1

Administrative Expenses Per Mile

• Only 11 responses statewide!• Only 1 responses in area 4!• Low response count.• What does this mean?

$0.17

Statewide

Rate Number of responses

$0.00 2

$0.17* 1

$0.26 1

$0.30 1

$0.53 1

$0.55 1

$3.33 1

N/A 1

Unknown 2

Minimum Need to Cover Cost Per Mile

2 responses:

• 2.02 and $1.90

11 Statewide Responses!Rates

$0.00

$0.89

$1.90

$1.96

$2.02

$2.30

$4.38

$10.00

$18.02

$0.24 - $3.58

N/A

Unknown

Actual Cost of a NON-WHEELCHAIR accessible ride Per

Mile

• 5 responses from area 4• All indicated that the cost is the same as a

bus or wheelchair lift vehicle$0.50 $0.96 $2.02 $6.67

Statewide ResponsesCost Number of

Responses

$0 1

$0.34 1

$0.50 1

$0.96 1

$2.02 1

$2.30 1

$3.48 1

$4.38 1

$6.67 1

Unknown or N/A 8

Varies or Non 2

Administrative Expenses Per Mile

• 1 responses from area 4!

$0.41 $0.48 $3.33

11 Responses Statewide!Expenses Number of Responses

$0.00 1

$0.28 1

$0.30 1

$0.41* 1

$0.48* 1

$0.55 1

$3.33* 1

N/A 2

Unknown 2

Minimum Needed to Cover Cost Per Mile

• 0 responses from area 4!

$0.96 $0.98 $10.00

Actual cost of an ambulatory ride per mile

• 2 total responses!

Same as Bus $2.02

Statewide ResponsesCost Number of

Responses

$0.00 1

$0.34 1

$0.50 1

$0.58 1

$2.02 2

$2.30 1

$4.38 1

$6.67 1

Unknown/NA 16

Other Rides Provided

• Accompanied Service to doctor appointments & grocery shopping

Other Rides Statewide

• Senior Rides• Commuters• Public Transit with a designated project

area• Non-Public funded trips to locations

outside MnDot project area• Non-Medica volunteer driver program to

visit spouses in nursing homes

Costs of “Other” Ride Per Mile

• Statewide:– “no cost, this is a bonus”– $50/hr. for bus service operating outside

transit hours– $0.55– $0.34– $1.02