PHOENIX (Jan. 5, 2016) — A new program is helping military veterans with disabilities get to their doctor appointments with free specialized transportation assistance.
The Veterans Transportation Assistance Program (V-TAP) was launched thanks to The MORE Foundation (Musculoskeletal Orthopedic Research and Education), a non-profit organization sponsored in part by The CORE Institute, which is a premier group of orthopedic and neurologic medicine specialists. An initial 90-day pilot last year, which covered transportation costs for 110 military veterans to make their doctor and physical therapy appointments, has been extended.
In the first two months of the pilot, the program:
- Provided transportation to hospice for a veteran when the family could no longer care for him, and made it possible for his wheelchair-bound spouse to visit him.
- Took a home-bound veteran to his doctors, pharmacy and to buy shoes because he no longer owned a pair that fit. The driver was able to coordinate purchasing his shoes.
- Coordinated a meeting and transport for a veteran’s spouse to help her obtain benefits for her husband after he suffered a stroke that left him completely dependent on his wife and in debt due to increasing medical expenses.
- Transported a homeless veteran and his spouse who were living without electricity and running water to various medical appointments, and to several appointments to seek assistance with his benefits and HUD housing.
