Access to health care is a major need for area residents desperate to get to appointments for treatment. A local organization that helps fill this void found itself lacking about $3,000 for its current budget needs, but the Great Bend City Council Monday night voted to cover the shortfall.

Volunteers in Action/RSVP of Central Kansas manages the widely utilized Medical Transportation Program, said VIA/RSVP Director Linn Hogg. “It is basically giving access to care to people in Barton County” who need rides to anywhere in the county or in the state.

However, “we have been in the Commission on Aging budget for many years and I have found out that this year we were left out of it,” Hogg said. “So our budget is nearly $3,000 short this year.”

The program also receives $14,000 from Barton County and $1,200 from Emergency Aid. In addition, Volunteers In Action/AmeriCorps Seniors provides 10% in-kind of the director’s salary, and VIA/RSVP’s sponsor Barton Community College provides office space, phones, employee benefits and other in-kind services.

There is no charge for the rides, Hogg said. They do ask for a free-will donation, but it is not required.

Between wages, fuel reimbursements for volunteer drivers, volunteer insurance, city bus tickets and wheelchair van maintenance, Hogg said the program spends over $17,000 annually. With the demand for services returning to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, and gas prices and other expenses rising, their cost of doing business is also increasing.

The city funds the Commission on Aging so Hogg hasn’t approached the city in past since she didn’t want to double dip. But, after she didn’t receive the funds when expected, City Administrator Kendal Francis suggested she address the council.

“I can’t speak to why they stopped allocating that,” Francis said. “But we did visit with the Commission on Aging and they did cut that amount from their budget request.”

However, Hogg wasn’t notified of the omission.

“I am concerned,” said Ward 1 Councilman Alan Moeder. Since Barton County provides funds, he believes citizens of Great Bend are getting taxed twice.  

Hogg said they are planning on approaching Ellinwood and Hoisington next year with similar requests.

The city’s budget planning season is approaching and it was recommended that Hogg submit her own allocation request. But, that would be for the 2023 budget which begins on Jan. 1.

While she plans on making this request for next year, “my concern is just trying to keep this program completely floating until July 1 which is the end of our budget period,” Hogg said. “That’s when we start seeing the shortfall.” 

“I guess it’s not really their fault that they didn’t know they weren’t going to receive the same money,” Mayor Cody Schmidt said. “To me, they should have gave them a heads up, they should have given them notice.”

Jolene Biggs, Ward 2 councilwoman, made the motion to approve the funding. Kevyn Soupiset, Ward 2, seconded it.

The measure passed with only Moeder and Ward 3 Councilman Cory Urban voting against it.

An important program

“Our volunteers transport Barton and Pawnee county residents to non-emergency medical appointments,” she said. The program is managed by a part-time coordinator with oversight by the director.

“Many of our residents don’t have anybody here to get them to appointments,” she said. “We don’t have nuclear families anymore. Most of these people are living outside Barton County, outside of the state of Kansas, and it’s very difficult to come help their loved ones.”

They hear regularly from physicians and care centers about the impact this program has on their patients. In fact, doctors and patient navigators are calling and setting up rides.

“If (the patients) don’t get that follow up care, sooner or later, they’re going to end up in their urgent care or the emergency room and that’s where they’re going to be doctoring from,” she said. “And you all know that if somebody starts using urgent care and emergency room, what happens is it costs the taxpayer money.”

Over 130 people utilized the medical transportation program to the tune of 888 times last year, Hogg said. Some of the 888 trips were to local doctors and the RSVP program picks up the $3 round-trip ticket. 

There were 225 rides given by the General Transportation Bus out of the Great Bend Senior Center.

“The personal impact it has on the patient is told by not only the client but their physicians and  care providers,” she said. “Doctors are so happy to know that their patients can get the follow-up care they  need which in turns keeps them well and living in their home.” 

Family members feel assured and  sometimes less burdened, she said. “For some, it is a bit of respite for others that live out of town it is a  great feeling to know mom, dad or sibling will be able to get the medical care they need. 

“Our clients are just plain relieved to have this part of their medical journey taken care of and they relate back about how nice it is to visit with someone on the way up. Many of our volunteers  have made lasting relationships with these patients,” she said.