“Someone is going to die.” Lawmakers hear dramatic testimony on medical transportation company

February 8, 2019 12:08 am

By Jordan Mazza

PROVIDENCE, RI (WLNE) — Elderly and disabled Medicaid recipients say they’re missing medical appointments because their rides aren’t coming, and their drivers say bookings aren’t showing up in the system and they haven’t been getting paid.

Those are just some of the issues they’re blaming on MTM – the company the state hired last month to handle non–emergency medical transportation.

They aired some of those grievances at a House Oversight Committee hearing at the State House Thursday.

“MTM failed to meet our expectations,” said Rhode Island Medicaid Director Patrick Tigue. “They should’ve been ready for January 1st of 2019 and they weren’t. That’s unacceptable.”

“It’s been 38 days of hell,” said John Tassoni, Director of Operations, Community and Government Relations for the Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council of Rhode Island. “

The issue could mean life or death for those in need of treatments like chemotherapy or dialysis.

“Your body is synced to receiving that medication, to receive the dialysis treatment, at a certain time,” said Rep. Patricia Serpa, a Democrat and House Committee Chair. “Your body’s expecting that treatment. So if you’re body doesn’t get that treatment – yeah, someone will die.”

“I take complete ownership for the service issues and failures,” said MTM CEO Alaina Macia. She apologized but defended her company, saying MTM did not expect to encounter so many small owner–operated transportation businesses here.

“We underestimated that,” Macia said.

“They underestimate this contract, they underestimate the people of Rhode Island, and the loyalty they have with one another,” said Daphney Williams of the RI Non–Emergency Medical Transport Association.

After tough committee questioning, Macia promised the company would get up to par within weeks and would bring exciting new technology to the state.

“I feel like we are finally heard,” Williams said. “I think this meeting tonight opened a door for us.”

“I’m so tired of excuses and bright, shiny things,” Serpa said. “Just get the job done.”

The committee plans to reconvene on this issue in three weeks. Members say if there’s not enough improvement, they’re prepared to terminate MTM’s contract.