As the Transit Manager for the City of Ellensburg, I see firsthand how vital this service is to our most vulnerable community members. Most of these NEMT trips originate from the ER and are taken to one of the skilled nursing or senior living facilities. Before the City offered this service, the ambulance companies were called to transport these individuals to and from the ER reducing their ability to respond to real emergencies. These passengers, primarily seniors, then received a very expensive ambulance bill. This service had made a great impact in the lives of our senior community members.