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By BONNIE ADAMS badams@leader.net
Tuesday, March 11, 2003 Page: 1A
A recovering heroin addict’s father who is trying to organize bus
transportation to a methadone clinic said it isn’t financially attractive to
some clients who get mileage reimbursement.
Bruce Scran said Monday’s initial $15-per-person bus trip to New Directions
methadone clinic in Allentown was canceled because not enough people were
interested.
Those who drive to the clinic receive 18 cents per mile from the state, or
about $27 per round trip. Most patients visit methadone clinics three to six
times a week.
“One girl told me the mileage reimbursement pays her bills,” Scran said.
He said he has heard of several clients from Northeastern Pennsylvania who
seek mileage reimbursement even though they carpool. Scran, of Hanover
Township, drives his 24-year-old daughter to the clinic, where she has sought
treatment for 2 1/2 years.
He said some clients earn “take-outs” of methadone, but some told him they
don’t like to do that because they want the mileage reimbursement. He had
expected at least 20 clients to make the initial trip.
Scran said other reasons contributed to the cancellation of the 9 a.m.
Monday bus trip from a local shopping center parking lot. Some clients didn’t
know about New Directions’ waiting list and thought they could show up for
treatment. Other prospective bus riders are entrenched in their carpool
routine or wanted to go in the afternoon because of work, Scran said.
He said he met with New Directions Director Glen Cooper on Monday and
Cooper plans to talk with state officials this week about the proposed bus
service. Cooper was not immediately available Monday for comment.
People eligible under the state’s Medical Assistance Transportation Program
receive mileage or public transportation reimbursement for methadone and other
medical treatments at approved facilities.
State Department of Public Welfare spokeswoman Stephanie Suran said state
guidelines require patients to use the most cost-effective transportation
available for their condition. She said there is some flexibility and counties
that administer the reimbursement may consider exceptions on a case-by-case
basis.
Suran said DPW has begun discussions with the state Inspector General’s
Office regarding potential fraud related to the Medical Assistance
Transportation Program in general.
“We have noticed instances where people are getting dual reimbursement,”
she said of those carpooling but receiving mileage payments.
Frank DeSanto, director of the Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Transportation
Department, said his office processes the paperwork for the state-funded
travel reimbursement. An average of 18 clients obtain reimbursement for travel
to methadone clinics.
“There is a lot of potential for fraud involved in this,” DeSanto said of
the program. He said the county office tries to prevent fraud, including
extensive paperwork containing vehicle odometer readings and a medical
provider’s verification.
“We’re not just taking people’s word for it,” DeSanto said.
He said clients riding a bus to and from New Directions would be reimbursed
only for the bus ticket cost.
Scran had organized the bus trips with Ed Deets, owner of Auto-Bus coach
lines in Mountain Top. Deets had said he’s willing to provide the round-trip
transportation once daily, six days a week, but cautioned the plan will not
work unless there are at least 30 people on each run.
“I’m not going to give up,” Scran said.
Bonnie Adams, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7241.