Martha’s Vineyard Community Services is introducing a new program to help Vineyard and Nantucket residents with travel expenses for medical appointments off-Island.

The transportation access program is designed to help individuals and families with excessive travel costs due to long-term illness, health or mental health needs requiring services not available on the Islands, chronic illness that requires regular off-Island appointments, and acute health emergencies. The program is meant to provide help when other assistance like health insurance coverage has been exhausted, or other transportation and assistance is not adequate or appropriate.

The funding was made available through state Rep. Tim Madden and the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

There is an annual cap of $750 in assistance per person; extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case by case basis. Equal funds will be distributed on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

To apply for funding visit mvcommunityservices.com/tap or visit the MVCS administration building, 111 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road. Contact 508-693-7900 with questions.