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MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION FOR MEDICAID CLIENTS

Medicaid pays for medical transportation under three conditions:

    1. The person who needs transportation is eligible for Medicaid;

    2. The person has a medical appointment or needs a health service covered by Medicaid;

    3. AND the person has no transportation to get to the appointment or service.

Medicaid  verifies these three conditions are met before medical transportation of any type is approved. If Medicaid cannot verify that the client has an appointment or needs a service covered by Medicaid, Medicaid will not approve the transportation.

Remember . . . Medical transportation is to be used only when you need transportation to obtain health care services.  Medicaid cannot pay for transportation for persons who are not eligible for Medicaid, even if a member of your family,  not to appointments with providers who do not accept Medicaid, and not to services Medicaid does not pay for.  Medical transportation does NOT include transportation to school, work, shopping or for social purposes.

UTA Bus Pass

Clients who live in the Wasatch Front and meet all three conditions may be eligible to receive a UTA bus pass to be used for MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION ONLY.  If you meet the three conditions and need a UTA pass for medical transportation, contact your eligibility worker.  The worker will discuss transportation needs and order a pass for you each month you meet all three conditions.  The pass may be used only under the three conditions.  It may NOT be used for transportation that does not qualify as medical transportation.

Special UTA Bus Services

Special UTA bus service is available in the Ogden, Provo and Salt Lake City areas for Medicaid clients who meet all three conditions and have a disability which prevents them from using regular bus services.  In Salt Lake County, the UTA service is called Flextrans.  In Weber and Davis Counties, the UTA service is called Handitrans.  In Utah County, it is called United Way.  A regular UTA bus pass cannot be used for special UTA services.    If you need special bus service for medical transportation, please call UTA at the following numbers:

Salt Lake CountyFlextrans, 801-287-7433

Weber and Davis CountiesHanditrans, 801-394-9150

Utah County United Way, 801-374-9306

UTA will ask you to fill out a form explaining your disability.  Your disability must qualify under the Americans with Disability Act.  UTA will not provide the special bus service unless you qualify.

If UTA approves you for the special bus service, then call Medicaid Information at 801-538-6155 (Salt Lake City area) or toll-free 1-800-662-9651 to ask about the Special Medical Transportation Card.  Be prepared to tell staff whether your application with UTA has been approved.  You must also have the name, address and telephone number of your doctor.

Medicaid staff will determine if you meet the three conditions in the first paragraph and explain what has to be done so you can get a Special Medical Transportation Card.  Medicaid will contact your doctor and ask him or her to determine how many medical trips you will need that month.  Once the doctor gives Medicaid the information needed, Medicaid issues a Special Medical Transportation Card.  The card has peel-off stickers for each bus trip approved.

Taxi Transportation

Medicaid covers transportation by taxi cab to and from medical and dental appointments ONLY when the Medicaid client CANNOT use public transportation and DOES NOT have a private vehicle.  Medicaid will NOT cover taxi cab service if the client could use public transportation or has a private vehicle.  Medicaid policy requires the staff to check for vehicle ownership and substantiate medical necessity with the health care provider before approving taxi cab services. 

Alternate Medical Transportation

Medicaid clients who meet all three conditions and have a disability that prevents them from using any type of UTA bus services (regular or special services) may call Medicaid Information to ask about alternate medical transportation.  Medicaid follows the same procedure for a Special Medical Transportation Card verifies the client's disability with his or her physician as stated above.   Medicaid retains the right to determine the most appropriate means of transportation based upon the information provided.   Call Medicaid Information at 801-538-6155 (Salt Lake City area) or toll-free 1-800-662-9651 to ask about the Special Medical Transportation Card.  

Transportation to Mental Health Services for People Enrolled in a Mental Health Plan

If you are enrolled with a Mental Health Plan and need transportation to mental health services, contact the Mental Health Center whose name is printed on your Medicaid Identification Card.  If you have special transportation needs, that center is responsible for approving  and providing transportation to services covered by the plan.

Questions?

The UTA bus pass or Special Medical Transportation Card is mailed each month to the address entered on the Medicaid eligibility worker's computer system.  If your name, address or other information on the pass or card is not correct, contact your eligibility worker.