JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A medical transportation company is apologizing for abandoning a disabled mother in Jacksonville and sometimes not even showing up for trips.
In an Action News Jax exclusive, Erika Pelzer said this has happened at least 11 times since January.
“It’s the most terrifying thing you could ever imagine,” Pelzer said.
For Pelzer, every day is a struggle.
“It’s very difficult and painful for me to walk,” Pelzer said. “And I have degenerative joint and bone disease, and now my knees are bone on bone.”
This was the best thing I could have done by call Russell Colburn. I've become very popular today with these companies. https://t.co/1i7TsnzeLy
— Lady Erika L. Pelzer (@PelzerLady) July 26, 2019
Pelzer doesn't drive and is on a fixed income, so she relies on transportation to and from doctor’s office visits and pharmacy pickups through the company LogistiCare, which is covered by Medicaid.
They contract with third parties like cabs and Lyfts, but Pelzer said they haven’t been showing up.
She said she’s been routinely left at the Walmart on Lem Turner Road, where she picks up prescriptions, until 2 a.m.
She showed Action News Jax the grievance she said she made in April.
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But for Pelzer, it’s not just about the inconvenience.
“You don’t know how you’re going to get home in the middle of the night,” Pelzer said. “You don’t have money to get home, and you’re in pain.”
LogistiCare sent Action News Jax the below statement. In it, the company apologizes to Pelzer and promises to investigate.
"We are aware of the problems involving Ms. Pelzer's transportation and apologize to her for the issues she has experienced. At LogistiCare, we strongly believe every member and ride matters. As such, we are actively investigating to determine the cause and working to address the problem. Moving forward, we will closely monitor her rides to doctors' appointments and pharmacies and work to assure her future transportation needs are fulfilled."
-Robert Perez, Florida General Manager at LogistiCare
Statement from @logisticare: "We are aware of the problems involving Ms. Pelzer’s transportation & apologize to her for the issues she has experienced...we are actively investigating to determine the cause & working to address the problem." MORE ⬇️ @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/hSjCvk51Dj
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) July 26, 2019
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