Navigating transportation to healthcare appointments can be a significant hurdle for many. For eligible individuals, programs like Superior’s Medical Ride Program, powered by Saferide Transportation, offer a vital lifeline. This program ensures that members who lack other transportation options can reliably reach their necessary medical appointments. Let’s delve into the details of this crucial service and understand how SafeRide Transportation facilitates access to healthcare.
What is Superior’s Medical Ride Program through SafeRide Transportation?
Superior’s Medical Ride Program, in collaboration with SafeRide Transportation, provides Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) benefits. This service is designed for members who require assistance getting to non-emergency healthcare appointments because they have no other means of transportation. These covered trips include essential visits to doctors, dentists, hospitals, pharmacies, and other locations where Medicaid services are administered.
This valuable transportation service extends to members enrolled in STAR, STAR Health, STAR Kids, STAR+PLUS, and MMP plans. Eligibility is determined by specific product and program requirements, while it’s important to note that CHIP and CHIP Perinate members are currently not included in this program.
Superior Healthcare emphasizes cost-effectiveness and will arrange the most suitable curb-to-curb transportation method to meet each member’s unique needs. Furthermore, recognizing that some members may require additional support, the program can authorize an attendant to accompany a member during their SafeRide Transportation journey.
Exploring the Range of SafeRide Transportation Services
The breadth of Superior’s Medical Ride Program, facilitated by SafeRide Transportation, is comprehensive, encompassing various transportation solutions to cater to diverse needs:
- Public Transportation Access: This includes providing passes or tickets for mass transit options such as trains or buses, both within and between cities or states. This ensures access to broader geographical areas for healthcare needs.
- Commercial Airline Services: For longer distances or specialized care, commercial airline transportation services are available, ensuring members can reach necessary medical attention regardless of location.
- Demand Response Transportation: A core element of SafeRide Transportation is demand-response services. This offers curb-to-curb transportation via private buses, vans, or sedans. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are readily available for those with mobility challenges. This personalized service ensures comfortable and direct transport to and from your residence or healthcare facility.
- Individual Transportation Participant (ITP) Mileage Reimbursement: Recognizing community support, the program offers mileage reimbursement for individuals who use their own vehicles to transport members to covered healthcare services. This ITP can be the member, a family member, a friend, or a neighbor, fostering community involvement in healthcare access.
- Support for Younger Members on Long-Distance Trips: For members aged 20 and under requiring long-distance travel for healthcare, the program provides meal cost coverage at a rate of $25 per day for both the member and an approved attendant.
- Lodging for Extended Healthcare Journeys: Similarly, for younger members needing overnight stays for long-distance healthcare trips, lodging costs are covered. This service is limited to the overnight stay itself and excludes amenities like room service or laundry.
- Advance Funds for NEMT Services: In specific situations for members 20 years old and younger, funds can be provided in advance to cover authorized NEMT (SafeRide Transportation) services, easing financial burdens associated with accessing healthcare.
The program also understands the need for support persons. If a member requires an attendant to travel with them to an appointment, Superior’s Medical Ride Program through SafeRide Transportation will cover the attendant’s transportation costs as well.
For safety and well-being, children aged 14 and under must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or authorized adult. Children aged 15-17 have slightly more flexibility; they can be accompanied or have parental consent on file to travel alone, except when the healthcare service is confidential, in which case parental consent is not required.
Arranging Your Ride with SafeRide Transportation
To access NEMT services, you can easily request a ride through Superior’s Medical Ride Program, which is provided by SafeRide Transportation. When you need transportation, simply call SafeRide directly. Recognizing diverse linguistic needs, SafeRide’s staff are proficient in both English and Spanish and offer interpreter services for other languages.
It is advisable to request your SafeRide Transportation services as early as possible, ideally at least two working (business) days before your scheduled appointment. However, SafeRide Transportation understands that urgent situations arise. You can request rides with less than two business days’ notice under certain circumstances, including:
- Hospital Discharge Pick-up: Needing transportation directly after being discharged from a hospital.
- Pharmacy Trips: Traveling to a pharmacy to collect essential medications or approved medical supplies.
- Urgent Conditions: Requiring transportation for urgent health conditions that, while not emergencies, necessitate treatment within a 24-hour timeframe.
| SafeRide Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Appointments/Call Center | 1-855-932-2318; TTY: 7-1-1 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. CST, Monday-Friday |
| Where’s My Ride | 1-855-932-2319; TTY: 7-1-1 |
| Hours | 4:00 a.m.-:800 p.m. CST, Monday-Saturday |
Planning Ahead: Transportation Scheduling with SafeRide
To ensure smooth and timely transportation, members are encouraged to contact SafeRide Transportation online or by phone at least 2 business days before their appointment. If an appointment is scheduled urgently with less than 2 business days’ notice, it is best to call as soon as the appointment is confirmed.
Managing Your SafeRide Transportation: Changes and Cancellations
Life happens, and appointment changes are sometimes necessary. If you need to cancel a medical appointment, it is crucial to notify SafeRide Transportation promptly, prior to your scheduled trip. To change or cancel your ride, call SafeRide at 1-855-932-2318. They kindly request 24 hours’ advance notice for any changes or cancellations to your SafeRide Transportation.
Emergency Transportation and SafeRide Transportation
It is important to understand the distinction between NEMT and emergency transportation. SafeRide Transportation is for non-emergency medical appointments.
- In case of a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room.
- If you are unsure whether your situation constitutes an emergency, contact your Primary Care Physician (PCP) for guidance.
- If you are unable to reach your PCP, Superior’s 24-hour nurse advice line is available at 1-800-783-5386. Registered nurses are available 24/7 to address health-related questions.
Addressing Concerns and Complaints Regarding SafeRide Transportation
For any issues or complaints related to Superior’s Medical Ride Program and your experience with SafeRide Transportation, please contact SafeRide directly at 1-855-932-2318. They are dedicated to ensuring a positive and effective transportation experience for all members.
