Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services offer crucial support for Medicaid beneficiaries and their children, ensuring access to essential healthcare. These services provide rides to various healthcare destinations, including doctor’s offices, dental clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, and any location offering covered medical services.
The types of transportation available can include:
- Public transport options such as city buses.
- Taxi or van services for direct rides.
- Commercial transportation like buses or planes for out-of-city appointments.
NEMT services may also cover additional needs like:
- Reimbursement for fuel costs.
- Coverage for meals and accommodation for children and young adults aged 20 and under, when overnight stays are necessary for accessing healthcare services.
- Financial assistance for out-of-state travel to neighboring states, such as Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, for medical appointments.
It’s important to note that these services do not include emergency or non-emergency ambulance transportation.
Am I Eligible for a Ride?
Eligibility for NEMT services is primarily for individuals enrolled in specific programs who lack alternative transportation options. To determine if you qualify for a ride, enrollment in one of the relevant Medicaid programs is a prerequisite, along with the absence of any other means of transportation to your medical appointments.
How to Arrange Your Transportation
To schedule a ride, the first step is to confirm your appointment with your healthcare provider.
Ride requests should be made at least two working days prior to your appointment, or five days in advance if the appointment is outside your local county. Ride scheduling services are typically available from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time.
Same-day ride approvals might be possible under specific urgent circumstances:
- When your doctor or dentist requires you to be seen immediately.
- Upon discharge from a hospital, clinic, or other medical facility.
- When you require transportation to a pharmacy to pick up essential medications.
For Medicaid Health Plan Enrollees:
[Imagine an image here depicting a person making a phone call to arrange transportation. Alt text: Person calling to schedule non emergency medical transportation for a doctor’s appointment.]
For those without a Medicaid Health Plan:
Contact 877-633-8747 (877-MED-TRIP) to arrange your transportation needs.
Please be aware that children aged 14 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Minors between 15 and 17 years old can travel unaccompanied, provided that a parent or guardian has given written consent before the trip is scheduled.
Essential Information When Booking Your Ride
When you call to request NEMT, ensure you have the following details ready:
- The Medicaid ID or Social Security number of the patient attending the appointment.
- The full name of the healthcare professional you or your child will be seeing.
- The complete address and phone number of your appointment location.
- The pickup address and phone number.
- The reason for the medical visit.
- The date and time of your scheduled appointment.
- Any special needs, such as wheelchair accessibility, lifts, or walker assistance, to ensure the appropriate vehicle is dispatched.
- Confirmation that no other transportation options are available to you.
[Imagine an image here showcasing a variety of accessible vehicles for medical transport. Alt text: Accessible vehicles for non emergency medical transportation including wheelchair van and sedan.]
Support for Gas Costs
If you have personal transportation but are facing financial constraints regarding fuel, assistance is available.
Contact the NEMT service using the ride scheduling process outlined above. Inform the representative that you have a vehicle but require help with gas expenses. You will then receive an application to enroll in the Individual Transportation Participant (ITP) program.
Medicaid can also provide reimbursement for volunteer drivers, such as family members, friends, or neighbors, who transport you to your medical appointments, provided they register as an ITP.
For both you and any volunteer driver, it is necessary to possess a valid driver’s license, current license plates, up-to-date vehicle registration, and car insurance.
