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ICTD 2025

Public Transport

POSTER RECEPTION (View list of posters here)

Identifying Gaps in Southwest Oklahoma NEMT Transit Networks

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
4:45 PM – 6:00 PM MT

    Co-Author(s)

  • SP

    Sai Charan Rao Poladi, n/a

    Student
    Oklahoma State University
    STILLWATER, Oklahoma, United States

  • EI

    ERIK INMAN, n/a

    Student
    Oklahoma State University
    Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States

  • AP

    ANIRUDH PARANJOTHI, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Oklahoma State University
    Stillwater, OK, United States

    • Primary Author(s)

  • JL

    Joshua Q. Li

    Associate Professor
    Oklahoma State University
    Stillwater, OK, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • JL

    Joshua Q. Li

    Associate Professor
    Oklahoma State University
    Stillwater, OK, United States

  • JS

    Julie Sanders, n/a

    Director of Transportation
    Southwest Oklahoma Regional Transportation Planning Organization (SORTPO)
    Burns Flat, Oklahoma, United States

    • Submitter(s)

  • VP

    Vamsi Krishna Pavuluri

    Student
    Oklahoma State University
    Stillwater, OK, United States

    • Presenter(s)

  • SP

    Sai Charan Rao Poladi, n/a

    Student
    Oklahoma State University
    STILLWATER, Oklahoma, United States

Abstract: In rural areas like Southwest Oklahoma, gaps in Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) access pose critical challenges for Medicaid clients who rely on these services for essential healthcare. This study examines the availability and limitations of NEMT services in three key counties—Jackson, Kiowa, and Tillman—using data from 2021 to 2023. Open records from ModivCare, demographic analysis, and semi-structured interviews with six local transit agencies were utilized to identify factors influencing ride denials, cancellation rates, and complaint trends. The data highlighted that 24% of service types, particularly dental care, account for over 80% of denials, with access issues compounded by distance restrictions in rural areas. Analysis also revealed that cancellation trends often mirrored statewide complaint trends, suggesting underlying systemic factors influencing service reliability. Transit agencies cited challenges such as maintaining financial and scheduling independence, as well as the need for better-coordinated communication and resource sharing. Predictive models were developed for ride cancellations, which, when implemented, can support proactive strategies to address these transportation gaps and improve healthcare access for underserved rural populations. Future directions include expanding data collection efforts and integrating client feedback to validate findings and refine solutions further.

Keywords: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT), Medicaid clients, Ride denial, Rural healthcare access, Predictive models, Transportation gaps.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees can expect to learn the following from this session:
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