MTM Fined $600K for Fatal Accident Where Driver Was Charged With DUI - Following Years of Complaints
Thursday, January 06, 2022
The Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) on Thursday issued monetary fines and a Corrective Action Plan against Medical Transportation Management (MTM) – the non-emergency medical transportation broker for the state – stemming from a fatal accident that occurred on November 27.
After an audit of the company’s policies and documentation, EOHHS announced it is imposing monetary damages, totaling $600,000, for MTM’s failure to comply with contract requirements to ensure member safety.
“This fatal accident involved a series of very severe violations of law and breaches of the standard of care we expect when MTM’s providers transport members to medical appointments,” said EOHHS Secretary Womazetta Jones. “The Rhode Islanders who rely on this essential transportation service deserve nothing less than safe, high-quality care every time these use this service.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWhile this week's action addresses the one incident, MTM has had numerous, significant problems in the state for years.
In 2019, House Oversight met to review Rhode Islanders' issues with MTM -- which in January 2020, House Oversight Chair Pat Serpa told GoLocal were still continuing to occur, despite repeated oversight hearings.
"It is resolved to no one’s satisfaction. I continue to get emails and phone calls almost on a daily basis," said Serpa, who said that at the prio hearing, their government affairs person asked her transfer emails and phone calls directly to him.
Findings
According to EOHHS on Thursday, the state will remove $200,000 from MTM’s monthly payments from February 2022 through April 2022. EOHHS is assessing MTM with a $200,000 penalty for each of the following findings:
- The driver’s use of a false identity to transport a member;
- The driver driving under the influence of a controlled substance with an open bottle of alcohol in the car; and
- Failure to secure a passenger in a wheelchair transport that resulted in the cause of death for the member.
Given that the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office is reviewing this matter, EOHHS may assess additional penalties if there are further findings.
Additionally, EOHHS has placed MTM on a Corrective Action Plan to address the following issues found during EOHHS’s assessment:
MTM’s notification process of contractually-required and tiered critical incident reporting is lacking in sufficient detail.
To prevent future fraudulent activities, MTM must develop a mitigation plan to prevent unauthorized drivers from driving on behalf of credentialed transportation providers in MTM’s network.
EOHHS is requesting that MTM submit responses to all follow-up questions and the material finding of noncompliance, including additional data and documents, no later than January 21, 2022. Under the current Agreement, EOHHS may place MTM on additional corrective actions, as necessary.
