Dane County has long had some of the top employment numbers in the nation for individuals with disabilities, thanks to a specialty transportation program. For many years, this program was in the hands of Madison Metro.
When Wisconsin’s regulations on Medicaid fund usage for specialized transit services shifted, Chicago-based entrepreneur Josh Massey received a phone call from EHS Dane County with an opportunity to help better the Madison community. At the time, Massey was running Alfred, a high-end rideshare service.
“Being an engineer, I gravitate toward solving problems,” Massey said. “I saw what people were dealing with when they were riding on these buses. They’d have to ride on the bus for hours on the way to work and back from work.”
Deciding he wanted to help these individuals get to work and home at a decent time, Massey put Alfred on hold. He relocated to the Madison area and in 2017 launched Carepool, a specialty transportation software platform that connects riders with disabilities and older adults to trained drivers.
Rider fees are mostly covered by Medicaid, according to Massey, with rates varying by market based on paying drivers a livable wage.
Carepool’s app allows a high level of direct communication between drivers and riders. Drivers send their riders text message updates about the pickup location and expected arrival time, while family members and other caretakers also receive text message updates that riders have been picked up and dropped off successfully.
“It’s a coordination effort between the whole family, social workers, employers … everyone has to work together to know this person has gotten there safely,” Massey said.
Carepool hires full-time drivers on contract, including some retirees who want to stay active while earning extra income, as well as veterans. Many have previous experience working with either aging individuals or individuals with disabilities.
“A lot of our drivers are from the CNA (certified nursing assistant) world, or are retired nurses,” Massey said.
According to Massey, Carepool provides thousands of rides each month. The company is currently expanding in Waukesha, Milwaukee, Eau Claire and La Crosse, with plans for Green Bay “coming soon.”
