Medical transportation, often referred to as “Med Transportation,” is a crucial service designed to ensure that Medicaid members can attend their medical appointments without facing transportation barriers. This program focuses on non-emergency transportation, facilitating access to essential healthcare services like primary care visits and dental appointments. It’s important to note that for emergency medical situations, individuals should always dial 911. Med transportation is specifically for medical appointments and does not cover trips to non-medical locations such as pharmacies, gyms, schools, or grocery stores.
The core principle of med transportation is to provide the most medically appropriate and cost-effective transportation solution for each individual. This can range from utilizing public transit and taxi services to ambulette and ambulance services (both ALS and BLS), and even personal vehicle mileage reimbursement. The aim is to align the transportation mode with the member’s typical mode of transportation in their daily life, ensuring both comfort and practicality.
To effectively manage this program, the Department contracts with a dedicated transportation broker, Medical Answering Services (MAS). MAS plays a pivotal role in scheduling transportation, operating contact centers to assist members, conducting utilization reviews to optimize service use, and handling various administrative tasks essential for the smooth functioning of the Medicaid Transportation program.
For those seeking more detailed information about the program, the MAS website provides a wealth of resources: https://www.medanswering.com.
Connecting with the Transportation Broker: Medical Answering Services (MAS)
Medical Answering Services, LLC (https://www.medanswering.com/) is the key contact for arranging med transportation. They operate separate contact centers to serve different regions:
Downstate: 844-666-6270
- Counties Served: Bronx, Brooklyn (Kings), Manhattan (New York), Nassau, Putnam, Queens, Staten Island (Richmond), Suffolk, Westchester
Upstate: 866-932-7740
- Counties Served: Albany, Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Rensselaer, Rockland, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates
Alt text: An ambulette, a specialized medical transportation vehicle, is shown to illustrate a mode of transport available through Medicaid.
Scheduling Your Med Transportation
Arranging your med transportation is a straightforward process. You can directly call the appropriate contact center based on your location (refer to the numbers above). These contact centers are equipped to provide assistance through toll-free numbers, offer translation services to accommodate diverse linguistic needs, and utilize telecommunications relay services to support individuals with hearing impairments.
For added convenience, you also have the option to schedule your transportation online by creating an account on the MAS website: https://www.medanswering.com. This online portal offers a user-friendly interface for managing your transportation needs.
It is crucial to contact the transportation manager at least 72 hours before your scheduled medical appointment to request transportation. This advance notice allows for proper planning and ensures that all trips are appropriately prior-approved by the transportation manager, facilitating a smooth and reliable service.
Addressing Concerns: Filing Complaints
Should you encounter any dissatisfaction with the transportation services provided, there are clear channels to voice your concerns. You can file a complaint directly with MAS through phone or via their website: https://www.medanswering.com. MAS is responsible for addressing and resolving service-related issues.
Alternatively, you can also reach out to the Department directly with your complaints or concerns at [email protected] or by calling 518-473-2160. This provides an additional avenue for feedback and resolution.
For complaints specifically related to Medical Answering Services, the NYS DOH has provided a dedicated form which can be accessed and filled out here: https://forms.office.com/g/vCaGH396iz.
Essential Resources for Med Transportation
To further assist both members and providers, several resources are available:
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For Enrolled Transportation Providers: Access the Fee Schedule and Transportation Provider Manuals at: https://www.emedny.org/ProviderManuals/Transportation/index.aspx. This is vital for providers participating in the Medicaid Transportation program.
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For Transportation Companies Seeking Enrollment: Information on Provider Enrollment to become a Medicaid transportation provider can be found at: https://www.emedny.org/info/ProviderEnrollment/transportation/Option2.aspx. This is for companies looking to join the network.
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Program Updates: Stay informed about any changes to the program by checking Transportation Medicaid Updates: https://health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/update/medup-a-to-z.htm#transportation. Keeping up-to-date is essential for both members and providers.
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Medicaid Transportation Regulations: For detailed regulatory information, refer to Section 505.10 – Transportation for Medical Care and Services: https://regs.health.ny.gov/volume-c-title-18/content/section-50510-transportation-medical-care-and-services. This provides the legal framework for the program.
Alt text: A wheelchair-accessible van, commonly used for non-emergency medical transportation, is depicted to represent accessible transit options.
Contact Information for Med Transportation Inquiries
For any further questions, comments, or concerns regarding the med transportation program, please reach out to:
Department of Health – Bureau of Health Access, Policy, and Innovation
(518) 473-2160
This program is dedicated to ensuring Medicaid members have reliable access to the healthcare services they need, removing transportation as a barrier to well-being.
