Distance and transportation means to personal care doctor or health care provider: Results from the 2005 Montana Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey

To examine the role of transportation in access to health care, we included two state-added items in the 2005 Montana Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey that measured of the number of Montanans with a personal doctor or other health care provider, the approximate distance and usual means of transportation to that provider's nearest office. About half (54.4%) of Montanans lived within five miles of their personal doctor or health care provider; another third (32.7%) lived between six and 30 miles, and the remaining eighth (12.8%) lived more than 30 miles away. And while travel distance did not vary by disability status, the primary means of transportation did. Three-quarters (77.5%) of Montanans drove themselves, while 90.4% without disabilities drove themselves; more Montanans with disabilities relied on a friend or family member for a ride than those without disabilities (16.5% vs. 5.8%, mean travel distance = 21.6 and 17.2 miles, respectively); and 3.1% of people with disabilities compared to 0.5% of people without disabilities relied on Medicab, Ride Share, community agency van, public transportation, or a taxi. A similar number of Montanans with and without disabilities (2.9%) walked, bicycled, or used a wheelchair or power scooter as transportation to the doctor. Further results describe travel distance and transportation means as predictors of the health care behaviors of Montanans with and without disabilities. These relationships can inform health care policy changes to improve transportation options for persons with disabilities. The data also provide a baseline for measuring impacts of such policy changes.