Getting from point A to point B can be incredibly difficult for individuals with disabilities. Thankfully, there are transportation benefits available through Louisiana Medicaid that can alleviate that struggle. If you or a loved one needs transportation benefits, this article will be helpful. We’ll cover what transportation benefits are, who qualifies for these benefits, which waivers include these benefits and more. Let’s get right into it!
What are Medicaid Transportation Benefits?
There’s a lot of misinformation around what Medicaid transportation benefits entail. Do they cover a ride to the grocery store, a post office trip, or random errands? The answer is no. Medicaid transportation benefits grant coverage to beneficiaries who need help paying for transportation to and from their medical appointments.
Who Qualifies for Louisiana Medicaid Transportation Benefits?
Just because you qualify for Medicaid doesn’t mean you automatically get transportation benefits. So, who qualifies? Here are the qualification criteria:
- You must be currently enrolled in Medicaid,
- Your Louisiana Medicaid program must offer transportation services, AND
- You must declare to Medicaid that you don’t have access to other forms of transportation.
*Special circumstance: If you’re under age 21 and have a medical need for transportation, you’re automatically eligible for transportation benefits. For more information about this exception, here’s the number for KIDMED – 1-877-455-9955. You can give them a call for more details.
If you’re unsure whether you qualify for LA Medicaid transportation benefits, we encourage you to call the Medicaid hotline at 1-888-342-6207 or visit your local Medicaid office.
Waivers With Transportation Benefits
As mentioned earlier, if you’re over 21 and want to access transportation services, you’ll need to be enrolled in a Medicaid waiver that allows for this benefit. The Residential Options Waiver (ROW) and New Opportunities Waiver (NOW) are two of them. You can also access transportation services through the Family Opportunity Act (for those who earn too much income to qualify for general Medicaid).
Types of Transportation Covered by Louisiana Medicaid
LA Medicaid transportation coverage applies to many types of transport. The benefits are separated into emergency medical transportation and non-emergency medical transportation.
Emergency Medical Transportation
In an emergency, eligible beneficiaries can count on Louisiana Medicaid to quickly transport them to an emergency facility via ambulance – called Emergency Ambulance Transportation (EMT). Beneficiaries can take advantage of this coverage by calling 911, just like in any other emergency. The ride will only be covered for FFS or enrolled Medicaid providers.
Non-emergency Medical Transportation
Non-emergency medical transportation is what it sounds like – transportation services that are covered in situations not deemed an emergency. Louisiana Medicaid covers several types of non-emergency transportation for eligible beneficiaries, and they include:
- A ride to receive Medicaid services (primary care appointments, specialist appointments, scheduled surgeries, etc.)
- Food and lodging associated with Medicaid-covered trips for medically necessary services.
- Non-emergency Ambulance Transportation (NEAT) – Ambulance rides when the situation isn’t an emergency but ambulance transport is necessary.
- Nursing Facility Ambulance Transportation – Situations where nursing facilities need to transport a resident in a non-emergency situation.
*Air ambulance services may be used for either emergency or non-emergency transport.
So, there you have it – all Louisianans with disabilities need to know about transportation benefits at a high level. The way you’ll access these benefits depends on the specific benefit you need. Use this resource and look under the “how to access” sections for phone numbers and contacts. We hope you found all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best as you take advantage of the transportation benefits you’re due.
