Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services are a vital resource designed to ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries, including children, can access necessary healthcare. These services provide rides to various healthcare appointments, such as visits to a doctor’s office, dentist, hospital, pharmacy, or any location offering covered medical services. Medical Transportation Services are in place to remove transportation barriers, ensuring everyone can get to their healthcare appointments.
Types of medical transportation available can include:
- Public transportation options like city buses, offering accessible and cost-effective travel within the community.
- Taxi or van services providing more direct and personalized transportation to medical appointments.
- Commercial transit options, such as buses or planes, are available for appointments that require traveling to another city, expanding access to specialized care.
Beyond just transportation, medical transportation services may also cover additional needs:
- Financial assistance for gas expenses, enabling individuals with vehicles but limited funds to reach their appointments.
- Coverage for meals and lodging for children and young adults aged 20 and under, and an accompanying adult if necessary, when overnight stays are required to receive covered healthcare services, especially beneficial for those traveling for specialized treatments.
- Payment for out-of-state travel to neighboring states, such as Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, ensuring access to care across state lines in bordering regions.
It’s important to note that these services are specifically for non-emergency situations and do not include ambulance transportation, whether emergency or non-emergency. For emergency health situations, please call emergency services immediately.
Am I Eligible for Medical Transportation?
Eligibility for medical transportation services is primarily for individuals enrolled in specific Medicaid programs who lack alternative transportation options. To determine your eligibility, it’s important to ensure you are a Medicaid beneficiary and confirm that you do not have other means of transportation to your medical appointments. This ensures that those with the greatest need can utilize these essential services.
How to Arrange Your Medical Ride
Securing a ride through medical transportation services involves a straightforward process. The first step is to schedule your medical appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider. Once your appointment is confirmed, you can then arrange your transportation.
To request a ride, it is recommended to call at least two working days prior to your scheduled appointment. If your appointment is outside of your local county, it’s advisable to call five days in advance to allow for logistical arrangements. Ride requests can be made by calling Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time, ensuring services are accessible during standard business hours.
In certain urgent situations, same-day ride approvals may be possible. These circumstances include:
- When your doctor or dentist determines that you need to be seen on the same day for medical reasons.
- Upon discharge from a hospital, clinic, or other healthcare facility, ensuring a smooth transition home or to a care facility.
- When you require transportation to a pharmacy to pick up essential medications.
For Medicaid beneficiaries who are enrolled in a Medicaid health plan, the process may vary slightly. It is best to contact your specific health plan directly to understand their procedure for arranging medical transportation services. Contact information for your health plan can typically be found on your membership card or health plan materials.
For individuals who are Medicaid beneficiaries but not enrolled in a specific health plan, you can request a ride by calling the dedicated number 877-633-8747 (877-MED-TRIP). This centralized number ensures all Medicaid recipients can access the transportation assistance they need.
Please note that for the safety and well-being of younger patients, children aged 14 and under are required to travel with a parent or legal guardian. Children aged 15–17 may travel unaccompanied, but it is necessary for a parent or guardian to provide written consent before the trip is scheduled, ensuring responsible and safe transportation for minors.
Essential Information for Booking Your Ride
When you call to request your medical transportation, having all necessary information readily available will streamline the booking process. Be prepared to provide the following details:
- The Medicaid ID or Social Security number of the person who has the medical appointment, ensuring accurate identification for service eligibility.
- The full name of the medical professional you or your child will be seeing, for appointment verification.
- The complete address and phone number of your appointment location, ensuring the driver can reach the correct destination.
- The address and phone number of your pickup location, which may be your home or another designated place.
- The reason for the medical visit, providing context for the transportation need.
- The date and time of your scheduled appointment, critical for scheduling the ride appropriately.
- Any specific needs you or your child may have, such as wheelchair accessibility, a lift, or walker accommodation, ensuring the appropriate vehicle is dispatched to meet your requirements.
- Confirmation that other means of transportation are not available to you, affirming eligibility based on transportation need.
What if I Have a Car but Lack Gas Money?
Even if you own a vehicle, financial constraints can sometimes prevent you from accessing medical care. If you have a car but are unable to afford gas, medical transportation services can still assist you.
In this situation, you should follow the same procedure for scheduling a ride as outlined above. When you call to request transportation, inform the representative that you have a car but require assistance with gas money. They will then mail you an application form to enroll in the Individual Transportation Participant (ITP) program.
Medicaid can also provide reimbursement for gas money to someone else who drives you to your appointments, such as a relative, friend, or neighbor. This individual can also enroll as an ITP driver.
To participate in the ITP program, either as the Medicaid beneficiary or the volunteer driver, it is required that you or your designated driver have a current and valid driver’s license, valid license plates, up-to-date vehicle registration, and current car insurance. This ensures compliance with legal and safety standards for all participants in the program.
