Medical Transportation Assistance
Medical Transportation Assistance is provided for people who cannot drive, do not have family or friends available to drive, or cannot afford transportation to routine medical appointments.
Medical Transportation Volunteers give their time but are reimbursed per mile for their service. Donations by clients are appreciated but not mandatory.
Who It Serves
Our clients are Benton County residents who are at least 60 years old and able to enter and exit a vehicle with little or no assistance. (Note: Exceptions may be made for people under 60 following a review by our staff.) Residents of area care facilities are NOT eligible for transportation. Our program serves most facilities in the surrounding area including Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.
How It Is Funded
Medical Transportation Assistance service specific grant funding is provided by:
How It Works
Clients
The process begins by contacting our office to request assistance. You will be asked to fill out an INTAKE FORM and a LETTER of AGREEMENT (download here). Once those are completed you will be added to our transportation "Client" list. Clients may then request medical transportation by calling our office and either speaking to a staff member or leaving a message. We ask for at least 48 hours notice prior to your appointment. When speaking with your care provider please schedule all procedures and visits for Monday through Friday between the hours of 8AM to 4:30 PM. Appointments falling outside this window may be available upon request following a staff review for availability
Volunteers receive client information and medical appointment information from the BCVP office.
Clients are notified from the BCVP office when a volunteer has been assigned. The volunteer makes contact with the client to secure the arrangements for transporting. Volunteers will escort clients from their home to the site of medical appointments, remain in the medical facility lobby, and return the client to their residence.
We will accommodate the client by taking them to the pharmacy on the way home from a medical appointment or transporting them directly to another appointment if necessary.
Volunteers
The first thing a Medical Transportation volunteer needs to do is fill out a BCVP Volunteer Enrollment Form. (Note: It is the third form down, please scroll to find the form).
Medical Transportation volunteers must provide a road worthy vehicle for the transportation of clients, proof of auto insurance, a valid driver’s license, and may be subject to a background check.
The Volunteer Driver donates their time but is paid fifty cents per mile for their service. The Volunteer Driver submits a Mileage Reimbursement form for payment upon completion of each trip.