Mobility Is Medicine – Michigan
Rural Michigan: Hillsdale, Iosco and western Washtenaw | Coming Soon
Making healthcare easier to reach in rural Michigan communities.
About the program
Mobility Is Medicine is a community-based rural health transportation initiative planned for Hillsdale County, Iosco County and rural western Washtenaw County. Through Catch a Ride Network, healthcare and community partners will be able to identify transportation needs, navigate existing benefits, coordinate local and accessible providers, and arrange approved transportation for maternal and infant health, behavioral health and healthy living. Implementation is phased, and availability varies by county while program approvals and referral networks are finalized.
Who can ride
The initiative is designed for eligible rural residents of Hillsdale and Iosco Counties and designated rural communities of western Washtenaw County with an unmet transportation need affecting access to care. Priority needs include pregnancy and postpartum care; infants and children; behavioral-health or substance-use services; Medicaid and uninsured patients; older adults; people with disabilities; low-income households; and specialty-care travelers. Existing Medicaid or health-plan transportation benefits will be checked first. Eligibility, covered destinations, rural service boundaries and start dates will be confirmed with approved referral partners.
Where rides can go
Approved transportation may include prenatal, OB/GYN, postpartum and pediatric care; WIC, lactation and pharmacy services; behavioral-health and substance-use treatment; counseling, recovery and follow-up visits; preventive care; specialty appointments and cross-county healthcare; and selected healthy-living supports such as food, housing and other social-service appointments when allowed by program funding. This is not emergency or behavioral-health crisis transportation.
Program goals
Establish coordinated maternal/infant and behavioral-health referral pathways in all three service areas; help residents navigate existing non-emergency medical transportation benefits; connect public transit, local and accessible providers, volunteer drivers, mileage reimbursement and other suitable transportation options; reduce missed or delayed care; track service gaps and outcomes; and strengthen the data and reimbursement workflows needed for sustainable rural healthcare access.
Partners
Catch a Ride Network, a program of Feonix – Mobility Rising; Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT), supporting evaluation and workflow planning; and participating hospitals, health departments, community health workers, doulas, behavioral-health providers, transportation providers and community organizations. Hillsdale Hospital and Priority Health are among partners identified in project planning; individual implementation roles are subject to confirmation.
Funders
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Rural Health Transformation Program, Improving Care and Access Through Transportation initiative. Final budget, contract and operating approvals should be confirmed before describing program-funded rides as available.
Volunteer drivers wanted
Help a neighbor get to the care they need.
The program plans to strengthen local volunteer-driver and mileage-reimbursement options alongside public transit and other transportation providers. Volunteer routes and eligibility will depend on county-specific needs, screening, training and approved program workflows. Contact Catch a Ride to learn about volunteer opportunities as the three-county network develops.
How to get a ride
Enrollment and transportation availability will be rolled out in phases with approved healthcare and community referral partners. Hillsdale and rural western Washtenaw are planned for earlier implementation; Iosco partner and provider development will follow a separate readiness process. Residents and partners should not assume this grant-funded transportation is live until a county-specific launch is announced. Learn more at https://www.catcharide.org/.
Questions
Which Michigan communities are included?
The planned program serves Hillsdale County, Iosco County and eligible rural communities in western Washtenaw County. It is not a countywide expansion to all of Washtenaw County.
Is transportation available now?
The project is rolling out in phases. County-specific eligibility, referrals and service dates will be announced after implementation and funding requirements are met.
What health needs does the program focus on?
Maternal and infant health, healthy living, and behavioral-health care are the primary pathways.
Will the program replace Medicaid transportation?
No. The team will help riders understand and use existing benefits first, then look at approved options for transportation needs not covered elsewhere.
Does the program only cover medical appointments?
Not necessarily. Certain approved food, housing and community-resource trips may support healthy living, subject to funding rules and authorization.
Can I volunteer as a driver?
Volunteer-driver and mileage-reimbursement options are being developed with local partners. Visit catcharide.org/volunteer to learn more.
Service area
Partners & sponsors
