Georgia Medicaid Transportation covers non-emergency transport services for eligible recipients who have no other means of transportation to get to Medicaid covered services. Medicaid also covers medically necessary emergency ground or air ambulance transportation.
In this post, we will provide a detailed explanation of how the Georgia Medicaid Transportation program works, what is covered and what is not.
In addition, we will show you how to request a ride, who the providers are in your area and answer the most frequently asked questions.
This post will cover:
-
- What is Georgia Medicaid Transportation?
- How to Request a Ride
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is Georgia Medicaid Transportation?
The Georgia Medicaid Transportation program also called The Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) program provides medically necessary transportation for eligible Medicaid members who have no other means of transportation available.
NEMT is a rideshare program.
You can request Georgia Medicaid transportation for the following covered Medicaid services:
-
-
- Medical treatment
- Medical evaluations
- Obtaining prescription drugs
- Obtaining medical equipment
-
To be eligible Georgia Medicaid Transportation, you must meet the following criteria:
-
-
- You must have no other means of transportation available and are only transported to those medical services covered under the Medicaid program.
- You must be in a fully covered Medicaid Eligibility category. Members in certain aid categories may not be eligible for NEMT, including the following:
-
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB)
- Emergency Medical Assistance Participants (EMA).
- PeachCare for Kids Members (PCK)
-
How to Request a Ride with Georgia Medicaid Transportation
The Department of Community Health (DCH) contracts with qualified selected brokers to provide and coordinate NEMT services to eligible Georgia Medicaid members throughout the state.
There are currently two (2) brokers that provide NEMT services to Georgia’s 159 Counties. They are LogistiCare and Southeastrans.
For the purposes of Georgia Medicaid Transportation, the state is divided into five (5) regions by county – Central Region, East Region, Southwest Region, Atlanta Region, and North Region.
To schedule transportation, you must contact the NEMT Broker in your area. Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
North Region
NEMT Broker Phone Number: Southeastrans Local: 678-510-4555 Toll-free: 1-866-388-9844
Counties Served: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, Douglas, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Gilmer, Gordon, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Jackson, Lumpkin, Morgan, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, Walker, Walton, White and Whitfield
Atlanta Region
NEMT Broker Phone Number: Southeastrans Local: 404-209-4000 For Georgia Families 360°, toll-free: 1-866-991-6701
Counties Served: Fulton, DeKalb, and Gwinnett
Central Region
NEMT Broker Phone Number: LogistiCare Toll-free: 1-888-224-7981
Counties Served: Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Butts, Carroll, Clayton, Coweta, Dodge, Fayette, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Laurens, Meriwether, Monroe, Newton, Pike, Putnam, Rockdale, Spalding, Telfair, Troup, Twiggs and Wilkinson
East Region
NEMT Broker Phone Number: LogistiCare Toll-free: 1-888-224-7985 For crisis stabilization units and psychiatric residential treatment facilities, toll-free: 1-800-486-7642, ext. 461 or 436
Counties Served: Appling, Bacon, Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clarke, Columbia, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Greene, Hancock, Hart, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Madison, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler and Wilkes
Southwest Region
NEMT Broker Phone Number: LogistiCare Toll-free: 1-888-224-7988
Counties Served: Atkinson, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Chattahoochee, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Grady, Harris, Houston, Irwin, Lanier, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, Miller, Mitchell, Muscogee, Peach, Pulaski, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Seminole, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Upson, Webster, Wilcox and Worth
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the top questions our readers have asked about the Georgia Medicaid Transportation program:
Who can request Medicaid Transportation?
The Georgia Medicaid Transportation program provides Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) to Georgia Medicaid members who need rides to and from their medical appointments and other Medicaid-covered services.
Is there a fee for the ride?
Yes, there is a small fee (copay) of $1 per ride.
What Types of Appointments Qualify for Medicaid Transportation?
Georgia Medicaid Transportation covers a wide array of medical visit types as long as the services being provided are Medicaid covered.
Some of the most common medical needs that require medical transportation are:
- Visits with primary care physicians or specialists
- Dialysis services for patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
- Substance abuse counseling sessions
- Behavioral health or mental health appointments
- Chemotherapy or other recurring infusion treatments
How much notice is needed to request transportation?
Transportation services for routine/non-urgent Medicaid services must be pre-arranged at least two 48 hours (two (2) business days) in advance.
However, urgent care transport can be requested 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How Long Will the Driver Wait for Me?
The LogistiCare or Southeastrans driver will contact you when he or she arrives at your pick-up location.
The driver will wait ten (10) minutes for you. If you don’t respond in ten (10) minutes, the driver may leave and mark the trip as a “no show.”
Also, it is important to remember that Medicaid Transportation drivers may not enter homes or facilities.
What If My Ride Does Not Show Up?
If your scheduled ride does not show up, call the LogistiCare and Southeastrans number for your area to explain the problem.
They will be able to help you resolve the issue.
Furthermore, you should call your medical provider, and explain to them why you are going to miss your appointment.
What If My Appointment Is Changed?
Should your appointment time change, call the LogistiCare or Southeastrans number for your area as soon as you can.
Explain why you are changing your ride time and set up a new pickup time.
Can I be Picked Up from the Emergency Room?
Yes. Your Georgia Medicaid transportation service can pick you up from the ER once a discharge order has been issued for you.
Call the LogistiCare or Southeastrans number for your area and tell them you need same-day picked up from the ER.
However, because of the short notice, there may be a wait until the driver can pick you up.
Can they take me to the Emergency Room?
No. Georgia Medicaid transportation service cannot provide transportation to the emergency room.
If you are having a health emergency, you should call 911.
In an emergency, ambulance transportation is covered by Medicaid.
Also, If you are sick and need care soon, the transportation service can take you to an urgent care clinic.
Questions about Georgia Medicaid?
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. In addition, we encourage you to post any questions you have about Georgia Medicaid in the comments section below.
If you found this article on “Georgia Medicaid Transportation” helpful, we encourage you to “Share This” with someone who may also find it helpful. We always appreciate your support!