Lorain County Approves $1.9M to Sustain NEMT Services for Medicaid Recipients

A Big Win for Patients and a Model for Other Counties

In an important step for healthcare access and transportation equity, Lorain County, Ohio, recently approved nearly $1.9 million in funding to maintain and expand non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) for Medicaid recipients. This commitment ensures that hundreds of residents will continue to have reliable transportation to essential medical appointments, treatment sessions, and critical healthcare visits. (Citizen Portal)

This decision highlights how local government action can directly strengthen access to care and serve as an inspiration for other counties across the United States.

What Lorain County Did

On October 24, 2025, the Lorain County Board of Commissioners authorized a series of contracts totaling $1.9 million to support NEMT services for Medicaid-eligible individuals during federal fiscal year 2026. (Citizen Portal)

According to reports:

• The contracts span multiple local transportation providers.

• Last year alone, transportation partners delivered approximately 35,000 trips for about 800 Medicaid recipients. (Citizen Portal)

• The county is using a mix of public transit capacity and contracted ride services to maximize reach and efficiency. (Citizen Portal)

This funding ensures continuity of service without disruption, a critical factor for people who rely on NEMT for ongoing care such as doctor visits, dialysis, physical therapy, and prescription pick-ups.

Why This Matters

1. Transportation Is Healthcare Access

For many Medicaid recipients, transportation challenges are not a minor inconvenience, they’re a barrier to receiving care. If someone can’t get to a medical appointment, that delay can lead to worse outcomes, higher emergency room use, and greater long-term costs. Funding stable NEMT services helps reduce these risks by ensuring rides are available when patients need them most.

2. Local Leadership Makes a Difference

While state and federal NEMT policies set the broad framework, county-level action fills critical gaps. Lorain County’s decision demonstrates how local governments can:

• Prioritize patient-centered solutions

• Ensure continuity of care for Medicaid members

• Support both public and private transport providers under clear, accountable agreements

This kind of leadership is especially important in areas where transportation deserts or resource constraints make healthcare access difficult.

3. Models for Oversight and Collaboration

Lorain County did more than just allocate funds, it created structured contracts with oversight and deliverables, asking questions about competitive bidding and provider performance. (Facebook)

Effective partnerships between counties and NEMT providers can lead to:

• Better accountability

• More efficient use of taxpayer dollars

• Higher quality transport services

• Stronger collaborations with public transit agencies

What This Means for Other Counties

Lorain County’s approach can serve as a blueprint for other counties nationwide facing similar challenges. Local governments everywhere struggle with ensuring that marginalized communities can safely reach healthcare without undue delay.

By:

• Recognizing NEMT as essential healthcare infrastructure

• Providing stable, predictable funding

• Contracting transparently with multiple providers

• Encouraging coordinated oversight and performance tracking

counties can reduce no-shows, improve health outcomes, and strengthen community trust.

Voices from the Community

Budget decisions like this are about real people. For Medicaid recipients, consistent transportation means:

• Keeping vital appointments

• Reducing anxiety around missed care

• Increasing independence

• Avoiding costly emergency interventions

Local officials and advocates alike have praised the measure for demonstrating that investment in NEMT is both compassionate and fiscally responsible.

Encouraging the Industry Forward

News of this approval arrives at a time when many regions are grappling with transportation funding shortfalls, driver shortages, and reimbursement pressures. Lorain County shows that even modest investments, spread wisely, can sustain services that make a measurable difference.

Other counties, states, and regional planners would do well to take note.

Conclusion

Lorain County’s approval of $1.9 million in transportation funding is more than a budget line item, it’s a tangible commitment to health equity. It sends a clear message: accessible transportation is essential to healthcare access, not an optional add-on.

As more local governments look for ways to improve care delivery and reduce long-term health costs, this kind of leadership can pave the way toward a future where every patient can get to care reliably and with dignity.

Communities everywhere should look to Lorain County’s example and consider how similar investments might benefit their own residents, especially those with mobility challenges or limited transport options.