01701462

Monograph

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/178786.aspx

This report documents the issues and concerns related to transportation for dialysis, a treatment that is annually saving the lives of approximately .5 million Americans whose kidneys have failed. The issues and concerns result from the intersection of transportation and healthcare, two industries that have respective roles and requirements. The research, conducted over an 18-month period, involved a literature review; surveys of transit agencies, dialysis facilities, and dialysis patients; information, data, and consultation with healthcare professionals on the research team; development of a forecasting tool to estimate needs and costs for dialysis transportation; and follow-up with selected public transit providers to document efforts to provide dialysis trips more effectively. Findings from this research project combined with other studies of dialysis transportation estimate that approximately half of patients rely on public sector transportation modes for dialysis—in particular, public transit's specialized services including ADA paratransit and Medicaid's non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). Other public sector modes with smaller roles include Veterans Administration (VA) vehicles, human service agencies, taxis and ambulances. This means that the public sector may be responsible for close to 70 million trips annually for dialysis. It is estimated that public sector trips to dialysis facilities require almost $2 billion annually. As the healthcare industry increasingly embraces its responsibility for the social determinants of health—of which transportation is a key determinant—it may be that the healthcare sector recognizes its role and responsibility for dialysis transportation.

Project B-45

English

147p

2019

TCRP Research Report

9780309480352

Digital/other

Figures; Photos; References

Costs; Health care; Medical trips; Patients; Public transit

Dialysis patients

Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Apr 5 2019 9:54AM