Understanding MATP: The Medical Assistance Transportation Program Prepared by the Pennsylvania Health Law Project Helpline: (800)274-3258 1-866-236-6310 TTY Website: www.phlp.org Copyright 2009 Pennsylvania Health Law Project
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.
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.
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) 274-3258.
MATP COUNTY CONTACT INFORMATION County Local Phone Number Toll Free Number Adams 717-337-1345 800-830-6473 Allegheny 412-350-4484 888-547-6287 Armstrong 724-548-3405 800-468-7771 Beaver 724-728-5633 800-262-0343 Bedford 814-623-9129 800-323-9997 Berks 610-921-2361 800-383-2278 Blair 814-946-1235 800-245-3282 Bradford 570-888-7330 800-242-3484 Bucks 215-794-5554 888-795-0740 Butler 866-638-0598 866-638-0598 Cambria 814-536-9031 888-647-4814 Cameron 866-282-4968 866-282-4968 Carbon 570-669-6380 800-990-4287 Centre 814-355-6807 800-822-2610 Chester 610-594-6930 877-873-8415 Clarion 814-226-7012 800-672-7116 Clearfield 814-765-1551 800-822-2610 Clinton 570-323-7575 800-222-2468 Columbia 570-784-8807 888-868-2320 Crawford 814-333-7090 800-210-6226 Cumberland 717-240-6340 800-315-2546 Dauphin 717-232-7009 800-309-8905 Delaware 610-490-3977 866-450-3766 Elk 866-282-4968 866-282-4968 Erie 814-455-3330 N/A Fayette 724-430-4600 800-321-7433 Forest 814-927-8266 800-222-1706 Franklin 717-264-5225 800-548-5600 Fulton 717-485-0931 888-329-3276 Greene 724-627-6778 877-360-7433 Huntingdon 814-641-6408 800-817-3383 Indiana 724-463-3235 888-526-6060 Jefferson 814-938-3302 800-648-3381
County Local Phone Number Toll Free Number Juniata 717-242-2277 800-348-2277 Lackawanna 570-963-6482 N/A Lancaster 717-291-1243 800-892-1122 Lawrence 724-652-5588 888-252-5104 Lebanon 717-273-8901 877-738-9968 Lehigh 610-432-3200 800-932-8748 Luzerne 570-288-8420 800-679-4135 Lycoming 570-323-7575 800-222-2468 McKean 866-282-4968 866-282-4968 Mercer 724-662-6222 800-222-8797 Mifflin 717-242-2277 800-348-2277 Monroe 570-839-8210 888-955-6282 Montgomery 215-542-7433 N/A Montour 570-271-0833 N/A Northampton 610-432-3200 800-932-8748 Northumberland 570-644-4463 800-479-2626 Perry 717-567-2490 877-800-7433 Philadelphia 267-515-6400 877-835-7412 Pike 570-775-5550 866-681-4947 Potter 814-544-7315 800-800-2560 Schuylkill 570-628-1425 888-656-0700 Snyder 570-522-1390 877-877-9021 Somerset 814-445-9628 800-452-0241 Sullivan 570-265-4057 800-242-3484 Susquehanna 570-853-4510 800-323-2051 Tioga 570-659-5330 800-242-3484 Union 570-522-1390 877-877-9021 Venango 814-432-9767 877-836-4699 Warren 914-723-1874 877-723-9456 Washington 724-233-8747 800-331-5058 Wayne 570-253-4280 800-662-0780 Westmoreland 724-832-2706 800-242-2706 Wyoming 570-288-8420 800-679-4135 York 717-845-7553 800-632-9063 The Pennsylvania Health Law Project, February 2009