The Caldwell County Department of Social Services Board approved a revised Medicaid transportation policy during its meeting Tuesday at the City-County Chambers in Lenoir.

Transportation for Medicaid recipients is available to eligible individuals for a service covered by the federal program by a qualified Medicaid provider. However, Caldwell County DSS is not required to cover transportation, and the service is covered only after a recipient has established a need for the assistance and has exhausted other transportation options.

Under the policy revisions, Caldwell County DSS will provide transportation for medical care in the Unifour counties (Caldwell, Catawba, Burke and Alexander) through Greenway (formerly known as the Western Piedmont Regional Transportation Authority) or a taxi service. Pooling of transportation will be done to minimize expenses.

Medicaid transportation requests must be received at least three working days in advance, though urgent requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Repeated no-shows without prior cancellation of transportation requests will result in a three-month suspension of service.

Additional information about the Medicaid transportation service is available by contacting Caldwell County DSS at 426-8200.

In other business, the board:

* Received a report from Program Administrator Lisa Abel regarding October as being designated as Hunger Awareness Month.

* Heard a report from Peter West concerning the Super Summer activities for children who have been placed into Caldwell County DSS custody. West said children were able to attend a lake party and took also part in an afternoon of fun at Bo's Entertainment.

* Received an invitation to attend a banquet to honor adoptive parents in November, which has been designated as National Adoption Awareness Month

* Learned about updates to adoption and foster care programs as a result of federal legislation enacted last year. Program Supervisor Wendy Pyle said the changes require notification of family members when a child is removed from the home and placed into foster care. In addition, efforts are to be made to keep children in their current school, along with keeping siblings together.

* Received an update on Caldwell County DSS activities from August. The department provided 13,742 individuals with food and nutrition benefits totaling $1.74 million; provided Medicaid benefits to 15,625 individuals, including 10,906 children; assessed the safety of 171 children; had 142 children in foster care; assisted 173 elderly and disabled adults to remain in their homes through the Community Alternatives Program; served as legal guardian to 27 adults deemed incompetent by the court; and provided $313,000 to child care providers for 85 children in order for their parents to work or receive employment training.