By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The RSVP Medical Transportation is a group of volunteers that provide rides to non-emergency medical appointments anywhere in Kansas for Barton and Pawnee county residents. Volunteers used their own vehicles to drive clients 30,681 miles in a one year time frame. Over 130 people utilized the program to the tune of 888 times.
The program is overseen by Volunteers In Action and director Linn
Hogg said “access to care” is one of the top priorities in the community.
"If you had to hire a service to take you to Wichita or Salina, that cost is going to be astronomical," said Hogg. "Most insurances are not going to cover that. Many of our residents don't have anyone here to give them a ride."
RSVP asks for a freewill offering, but there is no charge for the ride if you can't provide the offering. Volunteers are given a gas voucher stipend that equals 27 cents per mile.
The RSVP Medical Transportation is funded through the Barton County Commission
and Barton County Emergency Aid. In years past, the organization received
$3,000 from the Great Bend Commission on Aging. As her fiscal year is coming to
a close at the end of June, Hogg found out the Commission on Aging decided to
not fund the transportation program this year which left the program’s budget
short.
"I was taking care of my budget and I realized I haven't received anything from them (Commission on Aging)," said Hogg. "I don't like to push, but this is about the time of the year that I have to ask."
The Commission on Aging is a nonprofit organization that requests funding from
the city each year.
The Great Bend City Council decided to fund RSVP Medical Transportation $3,000
and suggested RSVP pitch their own request for the city’s nonprofit funding in
the future.