Charisse Pope attended the June STA Committee Meeting to share BHT’s perspective on transportation in regards to total healthcare. BHT is currently working on Medicaid Transformation and other population health initiatives. Transportation plays a key role in health care, and is interrelated with poverty, social isolation, access to education, and overall health.
Some of key points emphasized to the committee were:
-
According to the American Hospital Association in 2017, 40% of an individual’s health is influenced by Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) (of which transportation is a large component).
-
Health care accounts for 20% of a person’s overall health.
-
Individuals experiencing barriers to transportation experience poor health outcomes and increased costs associated with care.
-
According to Health Research and Educational Trust in 2017, the high cost of fares becomes a a transportation barrier to health care access. Missed or delayed medical appointments, limited pharmacy access and decreased prescription fills, and poorer overall health outcomes, and increased economic burden on healthcare and the community are the results of this barrier.
-
Data from the Bureau for Labor Statistics shows that people earning between $5,000-30,000 annually spend 24% of their income on transportation. This further creates a disparity that reinforces the cycle of poverty instead of increasing the prosperity and overall health and wellness of our community.
With transportation being such a critical component to health and well-being in our community, the Committee appreciated Charisse’s input about the barriers transportation can create or break down.
For more information on STA happenings and meetings see here.
