Transportation issues will no longer stop Monroe County residents from access to health care. News13’s Nicole Walters has more about a new program called Care Connects in this report.

Not being able to get to a doctor or pick up a prescription shouldn’t be a barrier to health care. But that’s the case for many in Monroe Count. The Pocono Mountains United Way estimates what they call A.L.I.C.E. Households and below represent 40 percent of the county’s population.

Pocono Mountains United Way President/CEO Michael Tukeva says, "A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym that’s stands for Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed. It really just puts a face on households that are living paycheck to paycheck."

Now a new program starting this Monday is hoping to eliminate that barrier.

Tukeva says, "The Care Connects Program developed between a partnership with Sanofi, MCTA and United Way, where we started thinking about what is really needed to address these concerns."

The Monroe County Transit Authority already has a Shared Ride program, which uses these buses. They can easily get you to and from your appointments. 

MCTA Chief Executive Officer Richard Schlameuss says, "Folks call us the business day before by noon. And we schedule that trip for the next day and we pick them up around the time to get them to their appointment so we’re scheduling them and other people on the same vehicle and we go all the same way."

But the problem was how do they pay for it for people who aren’t eligible for a subsidized program. That’s where Sanofi comes in. The company donated 15 thousand dollars to fuel Care Connects. 

Schlameuss says, "Once you are eligible for the program because you are eligible for no other program, then we’ll provide the service for free and get you to your appointments."

If you’re interested in the program— just call MCTA. The goal is to improve health outcomes in Monroe County.