Alaska VA Healthcare System (AVAHS)
Veterans Transportation Service (VTS)
Alaska VA Healthcare System
La Wana Latin, Mobility Manager
October 2014
OVERVIEW
I. Alaska VA Healthcare System
a. Veteran Population Served
b. Enrollment/Users
c. Priority Groups
II. VA Veterans Transportation Program
Initiative
III. Alaska VA Veterans Transportation Service
a. History/Mission/Vision
b. Qualifications
c. Shuttle Service Areas
d. Ridership Statistics
e. Future Opportunities
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
2
ALASKA VA HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM
• Anchorage VA Clinic
• Mat-Su Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)
• Kenai CBOC
• Fairbanks CBOC
• Homer Outreach Clinic
• Juneau Outreach Clinic
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
3
VETERAN POPULATION SERVED
• Approximately 77,000 Veterans live in the State of Alaska
• Highest percentage of Veterans (15%) of any state
• 85% of our Veterans live outside the municipality of Anchorage
• 70% of Alaska’s land mass is inaccessible by road
• Many Veterans live in extremely remote areas, inaccessible by road
• Limited specialty care is concentrated in Anchorage and Fairbanks
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
4
AK VA HEALTHCARE
ENROLLMENT/USERS
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
Enrollees
Users
5,000
Mat-Su
Kenai
Fairbanks
0
Anchorage
Veterans Population
30,000
Based on FY14 Jul data
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
US Department of Veterans Affairs, VHA Support Service Center (VSSC)
VA HEALTHCARE PRIORITY
GROUPS
Groups 1 & 2
Have a 30 to 100% service connected disability rating and are eligible for Beneficiary
Travel benefits
 Lodging, meals, flights, or mileage reimbursement for driving to VA authorized
appointments
Groups 3-8 (Target groups)
Only eligible for Beneficiary Travel benefits if:
 Receiving care for service connected condition (0-20% service connected
disability rating)
 Compensation and Pension appointment
 Receive a VA pension
 Income at or below the VA Maximum Annual Pension Rate
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
US Department of Veterans Affairs, VHA Support Service Center (VSSC)
AK VA HEALTHCARE
ENROLLMENT/USERS BY PRIORTY
GROUP
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
Enrollees
2,000
Users
Groups 3-8
Group 2
0
Group 1
Veterans Population
12,000
Based on FY14 Jul data
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
US Department of Veterans Affairs, VHA Support Service Center (VSSC)
VETERANS TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAM
VTP coordinates available VA Beneficiary Travel Program (BT), Highly Rural
Transportation Grants (HRTG) and Veterans Transportation Service (VTS)
resources to help beneficiaries overcome travel barriers to VA health care,
treatment, and services.
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
VETERANS TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAM INITIATIVE
• Increase access to care for Veterans who are not eligible for travel
benefits
 Visually impaired
 Elderly
 Immobilized due to disease or disability
• Work toward providing these Veterans with the most convenient
and timely access to transportation services
• Establishment of a network of community transportation service
providers
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
9
ALASKA VTS PROGRAM
HISTORY
• In 2012 Alaska VAHS received a Veterans Transportation Program grant
• Purchased 3 wheelchair-accessible vans; 3 aging government fleet
vans were retired saving the cost of retrofitting
• Current VTS shuttle service began in Nov 2012
• Mobility Manager hired in 2013 to oversee program
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
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ALASKA VHS VTS MISSION & VISION
MISSION
Improve access to care for Alaska Veterans by eliminating travel as a
barrier to healthcare
VISION
Ensure Veteran quality of care through innovation and integration of
transportation assistance; provide medical transport through efficient
use of Veteran Service Organizations, local community transportation
sources and Federal and State services
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
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QUALIFICATIONS
• Open to any Veteran enrolled in the Alaska VAHS regardless of
service connection
• Priority given to Veterans who are visually impaired, elderly or have
mobility issues
• Transport to medical appointments only
• Transport to appointments at both VA and Non-VA authorized
healthcare facilities (ex: Providence, JBER hospital, AK Regional)
• Free of charge
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
12
ANCHORAGE AREA
• Fixed route shuttle service
• Equipped to transport 8 Ambulatory & 2 Wheelchair Passengers
• Hours of operation: 8:15 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. (Mon – Fri)
• Round trip service between Anchorage VA clinic, VA - Northway Mall,
Domiciliary and Joint-Base Elmendorf Hospital
• Three runs per day; sign up for service at each location
• Operated by volunteer driver and a VA employee
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
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ANCHORAGE AREA
CONTINUED
• Door to Door Shuttle Service (2 Vans)
• Equipped to transport 10 Ambulatory & 3 Wheelchair Passengers
• Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Mon – Fri)
• Service Area: Anchorage, Eagle River, Chugiak, trips to the Valley
(Wasilla/Palmer on a case by case basis; pick up at Wasilla Veterans
Center
• One shuttle operates per day except, two shuttles operate on
Tuesdays
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
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ANCHORAGE AREA
SCHEDULING
Door to Door Service Only
• Book a month out, Veterans have until 2 p.m. the day prior to or
Friday prior to their appointment to schedule a pick-up
• Veterans will receive a reminder call the day before or Friday before
their appointment
• Call (907)257-4738/4948 to get scheduled
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
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MAT-SU AREA
• Van service from Wasilla Veterans Center to Anchorage VA Clinic and
other Non-VA healthcare facilities in Anchorage
• Transport 7 Ambulatory Passengers (not wheelchair accessible)
• Hours of operation: 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Mon & Wed only)
• Veterans need to schedule medical appointments before 12:00 p.m.
• Service Area: Anchorage; call (907)376-4318 to sign up
• Operated by volunteer drivers; service based on availability
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
16
KENAI PENINSULA AREA
(TENTATIVE)
• Van service for Kenai CBOC Area and to Anchorage
• Transport 6 Ambulatory Passengers (not wheelchair accessible)
• Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Mon - Fri)
 Service to Anchorage on Tues & Thurs if needed
• Medical appointments at the Kenai CBOC should be scheduled between 10 a.m. &
2:00 p.m.; appointments in Anchorage should be scheduled between 11:00 a.m. &
2:00 p.m.
• Kenai Service Area: Nikiski to Sterling
• Operated by volunteer drivers; service based on availability
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
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RIDERSHIP STATISTICS
1,800
Shuttle Productivity
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
Passengers
600
Trips
400
200
CY 2014
CY 2013
CY 2012
0
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
US Department of Veterans Affairs, VHA Support Service Center (VSSC)
RIDER DEMOGRAPHICS
1,200
Shuttle Productivity
1,000
800
600
Ambulatory
Wheelchair
400
Walker/Cane
200
CY 2014
CY 2013
CY 2012
0
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
US Department of Veterans Affairs, VHA Support Service Center (VSSC)
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
• Shuttle service for Fairbanks and Juneau areas
• Recruit additional volunteer drivers
• Hire a permanent driver and travel coordinator for the
Anchorage VA
• Purchase wheelchair accessible shuttles for Kenai and
Wasilla
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
US Department of Veterans Affairs, VHA Support Service Center (VSSC)