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 301-475-4296

St. Mary's County Health Department offers a safety-net transportation service for county residents eligible for medical assistance.  Transportation to and from medical appointments is provided.

Criteria for eligibility:

▪ Riders must be residents of St. Mary’s County and hold an active Medical Assistance card
▪ Appointments must be medically necessary and be a MA covered service. Your doctor must accept Medical Assistance as payment for the services you are receiving. 

Transportation Assistance Options:

Public Bus: We can help you access bus service if you live on a public bus route and your appointment place is on the  same route. If you do not have the fare, please call our office.

Gas Vouchers: Available if you have someone to take you to your appointment, but need financial assistance with gas expenses. Call us before you go to the appointment. If using your own vehicle, you must have multiple medical appointments causing a financial burden to be eligible for gas vouchers.

Ambulance Services: The health department has a contract with a local ambulance company for routine, non-emergency services. These services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  A doctor’s order is required.

Health Department Vehicle: Health department drivers provide door-to-door or curb-to-curb services throughout the county depending on patients' needs. Wheelchair vehicles are available. Call to arrange service at least two days before your appointment.  We relay medical trips to the city. For appointments in the city (D. C. or Baltimore), we require at least three days notice to make the arrangements for you.  Transportation out of the county is only available for medical services that are unavailable within St. Mary's County.

What if I don’t have an Medical Assistance card but still need a ride to medical appointments?
When the health department has a driver in your area, going in the direction you need, and there is a seat available on the vehicle, we may be able to help you. A small fee is charged.

 
Other Resources:

St. Mary's Transit System (STS)
301-863-8400 x1120
www.co.saint-marys.md.us

Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland
301-870-2520 or 1-877-874-7434 (Toll free)
www.tccsmd.org

Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)
1-866-743-3682 
www.mtamaryland.com

Center for Life Enrichment
www.ddamaryland.org/enrichment.htm

Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee
www.smtccac.org

Updated 9.10.10
Phone: 410-222-7152

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can get a Medical Assistance ride in Anne Arundel County?

In order to receive a ride you must have:

• A medically necessary medical appointment,
• Full Medical Assistance/Health Choice coverage,
• Live in Anne Arundel County, and
• Have no other means of transportation available (Medical Assistance Transportation is a last resort) -
  • No car or unable to drive
  • No family/friends who can drive you
  • Do not live on a bus route or Mobility transport route
  • Not eligible to ride with Department of Aging Transportation (410-222-4464)

How do I schedule a ride?

• Call AAA Transport at 1-800-442-2858, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and follow the prompts
• Call at least 24 hours on the business day before the appointment time. Example: If you have a Monday appointment, schedule your ride on Friday. If you have an appointment the day after a State/County holiday, schedule your ride on the business day before the holiday.

What if I need to cancel a ride?

• Call AAA Transport 1-800-442-2858. AAA has a 24-hour a day message system that accepts cancellations.
• It is important to cancel your scheduled ride as soon as you know that you cannot go to your appointment. When you cancel early, someone else in need may be able to receive a ride.

What happens if I forget to cancel my ride?

• If you miss rides, you may be required to call and confirm your ride with AAA Transport one hour before the ride. If missing scheduled rides becomes a habit, you may lose your riding privileges.

What if I am denied a ride or have difficulty with scheduling a ride?

• Call the Transportation Coordinator at 410-222-7152.

What are the policies for bad weather?

• If Anne Arundel County Public Schools are closed, transportation will not operate; however, efforts will be made to transport dialysis and methadone clients. Listen to local radio stations and watch local TV news programs for updates on County public school closings.
• If bad weather develops during the day, AAA Transport will decide whether or not to continue operation. However, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES will riders be left at appointments without transportation home.

What if my medical appointment is over quickly and my return ride is not for another 1 1/2 hours?

• Call AAA Transport at 1-800-442-2858 to see if a driver and van are available to pick you up early.

Can you take me to a doctor's appointment in a different county?

• Medical Assistance Transportation may drive you to another jurisdiction, if:
  • The physician's address is outside the county, but it is closer to your home than any provider in Anne Arundel County.
  • Your primary care doctor wants you to see a specialist, and that specific care is not available in Anne Arundel County. In this case, your doctor must sign a physician's certification statement for approval. Call the Transportation Coordinator at 410-222-7152 to obtain a physician's certification statement.
  • You recently moved to Anne Arundel County and have a doctor in another county. You will be allowed one trip to your previous doctor. After that, you must find a new doctor in Anne Arundel County.

Can other adults and children ride with me?

• Adults may have an attendant for assistance, but it must first be approved on a physician's certification statement. Call the Transportation Coordinator at 410-222-7152 to obtain a physician's certification statement.
• Regulations only allow for the child (up to age 16) or children with appointments to ride with a parent or legal guardian. Children without appointments cannot come along.
• We encourage parents to set up routine appointments for all their children at the same time for the same trip.

Carry the transportation card with you to have the phone numbers readily available.

altimore County Department of Health
6401 York Road, 3rd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21212-2130
E-mail: communityhealthservices@baltimorecountymd.gov

Phone: 410-887-2828
TTY users call via Maryland Relay

Services

The Medical Assistance Transportation Grant Program is funded by the State of Maryland and coordinates transportation services for Medical Assistance recipients who reside in Baltimore County, and who are in need of transportation to access medically necessary services. This program provides "last resort" transportation for ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher-bound recipients who have no other means available of transport to get to and from medical appointments. 

Schedule Transportation Services

Call the Medical Assistance Transportation Program at 410-887-2828 Monday–Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., except on holidays to schedule transportation to need medical services.

Eligibility

This service is available to Baltimore County residents with eligible, non-restrictive Medical Assistance (Medicaid) to medical services that are covered by Medical Assistance and for which there is no other means of transportation.

A Certification for Medical Transportation (PDF) is required for all patients. This form must be complete and signed by the patient's doctor. A doctor must certify that the patient is unable to use public transportation due to a specific medical condition. The Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene requires medical certification for all recipients. Once the form is completed and signed faxed or mailed to the Baltimore County Department of Health.

The Patient Eligibility Handbook (PDF) outlines who is eligible for Medical Assistance transportation, what types of transportation are available and how to apply.

Frequently Used Forms

Dialysis Renewal Fax Request (PDF) 
This renewal form should be completed and faxed or mailed to Baltimore County Medical Assistance Transportation by the 3rd week of the month to insure that dialysis transports continue uninterrupted.

Pending Medical Assistance Agreement (PDF) 
This form should be completed and signed by the Nursing Home Facility Administrator. The Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene encourages local transportation programs to enter into agreements with nursing homes in their county in order to provide necessary transportation services for recipients whose Medical Assistance (Medicaid) is in pending status.

MATP provides Allegheny County residents, who are eligible and receiving Medical Assistance, non-emergency medical transportation to and from MA-billable, non-emergency medical services.

MA-billable services include both physical health services (doctor and dentist appointments, and trips to and from the pharmacy) and behavioral health services (mental health counseling, and drug and alcohol treatment and counseling).

Service Exclusions - MATP DOES NOT provide emergency or ambulance service, or transportation to sheltered workshops, day care programs, mental health social rehabilitation programs, WIC programs, nutrition programs, or VA Medical Centers.

Contact MATP, Monday through Friday,  for information, enrollment, scheduling and cancelling trips, and complaints.

By phone: Call toll-free, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., at 1-888-547-MATP (6287)
In person: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Human Services Building, First Floor, One Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, 15222

NOTE: MATP offices are closed on County-observed holidays. ACCESS service and direct reimbursements will be provided to MATP clients needing transportation on these dates.

 MATP Brochure

 Ride for Free with MATP! flyer

MATP on HumanServices.net

MATP Eligibility

• Must have a valid Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (MA) Card and be a resident of Allegheny County.
• Medical Assistance eligibility must be verified according to Pennsylvania Department of Human Services guidelines.
• MATP paperwork must be signed and returned before transportation services can begin.

Client-Friendly MATP Enrollment

All new applicants must call 1-888-547-MATP (6287) or visit the MATP office on the First Floor of the Human Services Building, One Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh 15222 to enroll. Enrollment is a three-step process:

• MATP will verify the new applicant's MA eligibility and then complete the MATP Application (usually over the phone).
• MATP will mail the completed Application to the home of the applicant for his/her signature.
• The applicant signs all paperwork and returns it to the MATP Office.
• NOTE: Clients must advise MATP immediately of any changes of address, telephone number, Pennsylvania Medical Assistance Card Issue Number, or Medical Assistance eligibility.

Scheduling transportation with MATP

Clients who want to ride ACCESS must call MATP to schedule their trip(s):

• before 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
• up to two weeks but no less than two workdays (Monday through Friday) in advance of the medical appointment. 
• (NOTE: Appointments must be made on Thursday for a Monday appointment).
• Clients must provide information regarding the destination and purpose of their medical trips.

• Escorts -- If an escort is authorized to travel with a client, arrangements must be made at the time the trip is scheduled. MATP will authorize escorts only when the client is physically or behaviorally incapable of traveling alone or if the effect of the scheduled medical treatment is expected to cause temporary incapacity. Escorts must be at least 18 years of age.

Requests for next day or same day service for 'urgent care' are approved on a case-by-case basis. The primary care physician and/or Managed Care Organization may be contacted for verification of urgent need.

MATP Requirements

• MATP is required by law to provide the least costly transportation available.
• MATP is required to assign the client’s medical trip to public transportation, mileage reimbursement, or ACCESS shared-ride system at the discretion of MATP.
• MATP will help determine the mode of transportation. The selection of transportation service is based upon:
  • The rider's physical and/or behavioral health condition.
  • The rider's health needs based on physicians’ recommendations.
  • Availability of public transportation between locations of origin and destination.

MATP does not fund trips of less than 1/4 mile unless the client is unable to walk the distance.

No-Cost Public Transportation (No out-of-pocket expenses)

MATP and Traveler’s Aid Society (TAS) are working together through neighborhood social service programs and medical facilities to give MATP clients and their eligible family members free bus tickets for their medical appointments.

Traveler's Aid also will send bus tickets to consumers in the mail.  Enrolled MATP consumers must call TAS at 412-281-5474 at least one week in advance of their medical appointment.  TAS will send the tickets in the mail to the consumer's home address along with a verification form to be signed by the medical facility.

Consumers must send the signed verification form back to TAS (stamped envelope provided) in order to continue receiving bus tickets for future appointments.

Public-Private Transportation

MATP provides after-the-fact reimbursement of transportation costs for car, bus and taxi fare. All clients must submit proof of their medical/pharmacy visit (preferably on letterhead) and original, unmodified proof of transportation cost (e.g. taxi receipt) to receive reimbursement. MATP verifies public transportation fares with Port Authority Transit (PAT). All clients should submit their trip verification within 15 workdays of the date of their trip in order to ensure prompt reimbursement. Reimbursements are honored when verified by MATP.

• Public transportation is reimbursed for actual trip cost.
• Mileage in private vehicles is reimbursed at $0.40 per mile.
• Parking and tolls are reimbursed.

MATP Shared-Ride System (SRS)

• SRS vehicles operate Monday through Sunday, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., year-round, including holidays.
• Only clients and escorts (see Escorts under Scheduling, above) authorized by MATP are permitted on SRS vehicles.
• MATP clients riding SRS have been authorized by their family physician through the Physician’s Verification Process or have attended the functional assessment and interview process conducted at the ACCESS program offices. 
• A parent ,or an adult with parental authority, must accompany children up to 17 years of age on SRS vehicles.
• Parents must furnish a car seat for children up to eight years of age.
• Children 13 to 17 years of age may ride alone on SRS vehicles only if the parent or guardian has signed a consent form.
• Shared ride vehicles are permitted to be 10 minutes early or 20 minutes late for their scheduled pick-up time. Share ride vehicles will only wait five minutes at a pick-up site.