June 21, 2023
Chuck Dyer, ODOT Office of Transit
Robbie Sarles, RLS & Associates

Today’s Objective
Describe Mobility Ohio’s History and Pilot Project
Provide Lessons Learned from ODOT’s Collaboration with
State Human Service Agencies

Overview

Mobility Ohio Partners

The
picturecan't bedisplayed.

The Mobility Ohio Pilot Goal
Demonstrate the effectiveness of consolidating human service
transportation policies, sharing costs and coordinating trips
through a one-stop regional transportation resource center, prior
to statewide implementation.
Improve safety, quality and availability of transportation for older
adults, people with disabilities, and those with lower incomes.

History

History
1990s-2000s
ODOT Handbook for Coordinating Transportation Services
State agencies develop their own policies and funding
programs for local affiliates
Policies encoded into Ohio Administrative Code/Revised CodeFederal incentives for state Medicaid departments to rely on
brokerages and managed care organizations (MCOs) toadminister NEMT
NEMT provider network unable to meet demand for service(quantity and quality)

Ohio Mobility Transformation
2011: Office of Health Transformation established toreform Medicaid and improve Ohioans’ health outcomes
2015: Governance Structure for Mobility Transformation
Initiative
Mobility Transformation Committee (state human service
agency directors – aka Policy Group)
Working Group (high-level administrators with links to clientservices)Ohio Mobility Transformation
2016: Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) proposes astatewide NEMT brokerage as solution for multi-million budget
deficitODM released Request for Information (RFI) to determine potential
negative impacts
ODOT and transit system input resulted in pause in brokerage plan

Planning begins for Pilot RTRC, continues after change in
Governor in 2019
Agency study and industry input for policy alignment
HSTC Regions formation

Mobility Ohio
New administration, new initiative nameWorking Group successes
Consensus on consistent safety and quality standards (driverqualifications, vehicle types, provider insurance, driver training, etc.)
Testing of rate-setting tool
Successful applications for ICAM and CDC funding
Development of Pilot RTRC administrative/implementation models

Pilot RTRC to launch in 2024

What We’re DoingThe Mobility Ohio Pilot Objectives•••••

Establish a regional governance structure to oversee humanservice transportation
Pilot a one-stop hub in Southeast Ohio for trip scheduling,billing and mobility management
Use a consistent rate-setting methodology based on providers’fully allocated costs
Implement consistent driver and vehicle safety and quality
standards through a real-time statewide database (DRIVES)
Braid federal funding and share trip costs among multiple
funding sources

The Mobility Ohio Pilot In Action
A Regional Transportation
Resource Center (RTRC)
A one-stop hub where clientsand customers can conveniently
schedule trips by phone oronline for multiple trip purposes
Funnel human service
transportation funding from thestate to the region, increasing
cost-efficiency

Pilot RTRC’s Roles and Responsibilities
Contract with for-profit,non-profit and public
transportation providers
Ensure compliance withsafety and quality standards
Serve as the region’s hub
for mobility management
services

Rate-Setting Methodology
Providers will bill the RTRC at rates based on their fully allocatedcostsThis will allow braiding of Federal transportation funds while
avoiding cross-subsidization

Safety and Quality
Standards
This simplified Safety andQuality Standards provides
an overview of therequirements and rules forhealth and human service
transportation provided
under Mobility Ohio.
Implement in January 2024

DRIVESThe DRIVES database is being developed by the State of Ohio to provide the RTRC withtechnology to register transportation drivers, providers and vehicles.
The Drives system will maintain up-to-date records on their criminal history and motor vehicle
records, and track the status of their compliance with safety and quality requirements in realtime.

What are the ingredients tosuccessful DOT engagementwith other state agencies?

Use a Top-Down Approach
Commitment from Governor’s office and cabinet-level stateagency leaders
Decision-makers came to, and stayed at, the table
ODOT is planning the Pilot RTRC with its state agency
committee partners
ODOT will direct local-level partners on implementation
Partner state agencies will engage local affiliates to adjust theirtransportation purchasing and trip booking procedures

See Things from Partners’ Points of View
ODOT attempted to discern the concerns that drove otheragencies’ decision-making
ODOT’s focus was providing public transit and preserving local matchfor small and rural systems
ODM’s focus was to provide healthcare coverage for low-incomeOhioans
Departments of Aging and Developmental Disabilities were mostconcerned with quality of care for vulnerable clients and customers

ODOT educated partners about transit in Working Groupmeetings

Evaluate Agency and Workforce Impacts
Determine the current state of transportation workforce
conditions and the potential consequences of implementing
consistent, statewide uniform provider standards acrossfunding programs
Survey agencies and transportation providers
Hold input meetings

Evaluate Agency and Workforce Impacts
Share your findings
Standards would not be a hardship to the majority of providers
Availability of statewide qualifications database and trainingopportunities would be beneficial
Providers were clear in desire for one set of state rules across humanservice programs
Most state agencies agree with policy alignment implemented througha single-agency approach: one agency responsible for enacting all
standards through uniform Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) rules
applied to all participating agencies

Celebrate Small Wins Along the Way
Aspects of the pilot will move the needle on coordination, on
their own
DRIVES database will allow any transportation provider to have instantaccess to real-time driver and vehicle safety and qualification status
RTRC scheduling and dispatching software will provide replicabletechnology to implement the coordinated trip brokering model in any
HSTC region
Rate-setting tool will allow any provider to determine a unit rate basedon a consistent methodology that considers their fully allocated costs

Engage with Locals to Remain in Sync
ODOT engaged pilot region stakeholders early
Pandemic delays led to these motivated locals “going their own way”
Provide locals with clear expectations for deliverables
Carefully employ a comprehensive communications strategy

Bring state DOT employees along, too
Educate and update them frequently and consistentlyGrant-making decisions should not conflict with the effort (e.g., mobility
management and technology projects)

Conclusions
A “grand vision” can be overwhelming to stakeholders
Know what to say, when – plan your communications wellPeople may fill the gaps in their own understanding with wellintentioned but counterproductive ideas

It doesn’t hurt when others think the solution is their idea –even when you’ve done 95% percent of the development
An implemented solution is better than the ideal solution

Your Questions, CommentsConrick@ctaa.org
Chuck.Dyer@dot.ohio.gov
Rsarles@rlsandassoc.com

Thank You!