Understanding MATP: The Medical Assistance Transportation Program

Transcription

1 Understanding MATP: The Medical Assistance Transportation Program Prepared by the Pennsylvania Health Law Project Helpline: (800) TTY Website: Copyright 2009 Pennsylvania Health Law Project

2 THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM The Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) provides rides to medical services at no cost to you. If you or anyone in your family is a Medical Assistance recipient, whether you just have an ACCESS card or you are also in an HMO, you can get help with the transportation you need to get to and from medical providers. You can also get mileage reimbursement if you use your own car or find someone willing to give you a ride. WHERE CAN YOU GO WITH MATP? You can use MATP services to get to any health care service that is covered by Medical Assistance. You can use MATP to go to: o Appointments with your doctor o Appointments with your dentist o Appointments with your psychologist or psychiatrist o Drug and alcohol treatment clinics o The pharmacy for prescriptions o The hospital for tests o Medical equipment suppliers If you belong to a Medical Assistance Physical or Behavioral Health Plan or you are in ACCESS Plus, you can use MATP services to get to any MA provider of your choice in the network (Note: Pharmacies are an exception and you are limited to the 2 closest to your home or to your doctor s office) If you are in FFS, you can use MATP to go to the nearest MA provider who can meet your needs. You can go to a more distant provider if you prove a medical need to go to that provider.

3 HOW IS TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED? The MATP provides rides in the least costly way to meet your needs. You will usually be riding with other passengers. Depending on where you need to go, MATP can arrange a ride for you using vans, taxis, or accessible vehicles for persons with disabilities. If you can ride a bus, and you do not live far from a bus line, you can be reimbursed for the cost of riding the bus. Each county MATP decides on its own mileage reimbursement rate (min.rate is.25/mile), and also reimburses you for any parking and turnpike toll costs involved in your trip. YOU MUST REGISTER FOR MATP SERVICES! If you want to use MATP services, you must sign up or register with the program. This application is separate from your Medical Assistance application. Registering for MATP should be a very simple process. Call the MATP program in your county. If you do not know the number, your local County Assistance Office should have the contact information. You will be asked for your ACCESS card number to make sure you are eligible for MATP services, and you will be asked a few questions about your need for transportation. Make sure you tell the MATP about any special needs you have, like: o if you use a wheelchair or walker; o if you have any problem that keeps you from riding a bus or van with other people; o or if you need to have someone go with you to your appointments.

4 NOTE: When you get a ride through MATP, you are expected to get to the curb to be picked up. If you have any disabilities or limitations that keep you from getting to the curb, tell that to the MATP. MATP should then provide you with door to door service. If you are registering a child who is under 18, a parent or guardian can accompany the child to their appointments at no cost to you. This information is put on a registration form you must sign. You can come to the office to complete the form, or it can be mailed to you to sign and send back. Note: You can obtain MATP services while you are completing the registration process. But, the county MATP must receive a signed registration form within 30 days from the time your services begin! WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE ANY PROBLEMS USING THE MATP? You have the right to a written notice from the county MATP if it denies, reduces, or stops your transportation services. You should also get a notice if your request for a ride or for mileage reimbursement to go to a medical provider is denied You can appeal these decisions and ask for a fair hearing with the Department of Public Welfare. You can file a complaint with the county if you are unhappy with your MATP service or if a driver or staff treated you poorly. If you need help with an appeal, or if you are having any problems getting the medical transportation you need, you can call the Pennsylvania Health Law Project for free assistance at: (800)

5 MATP COUNTY CONTACT INFORMATION County Local Phone Number Toll Free Number Adams Allegheny Armstrong Beaver Bedford Berks Blair Bradford Bucks Butler Cambria Cameron Carbon Centre Chester Clarion Clearfield Clinton Columbia Crawford Cumberland Dauphin Delaware Elk Erie N/A Fayette Forest Franklin Fulton Greene Huntingdon Indiana Jefferson

6 County Local Phone Number Toll Free Number Juniata Lackawanna N/A Lancaster Lawrence Lebanon Lehigh Luzerne Lycoming McKean Mercer Mifflin Monroe Montgomery N/A Montour N/A Northampton Northumberland Perry Philadelphia Pike Potter Schuylkill Snyder Somerset Sullivan Susquehanna Tioga Union Venango Warren Washington Wayne Westmoreland Wyoming York The Pennsylvania Health Law Project, February 2009