# Can You Request a Specific Hospital for Medical Transport?

> Yes, you name the hospital when you book. How NY Medicaid rides work for hospitals inside and outside your area (Form 2020), and private pay on Long Island.

Source: https://dachiplus.com/resources/can-you-request-a-specific-hospital-for-medical-transport/

## Photo: DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ / Pexels

By [Nabeel Majahid](https://dachiplus.com/about/#owner), Owner

Updated October 2026

Yes, you name the hospital when you book. Private-pay riders set the destination, full stop. For Medicaid rides, New York covers trips to Medicaid-covered care within your common medical marketing area, and a hospital outside that area needs a form from your referring provider before Medicaid will cover the ride. DachiPlus serves hospitals across Nassau and Suffolk County, Long Island. Private-pay patients can call [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777) directly. Medicaid patients should call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) at least 72 hours before the appointment.

**Quick answer:** Yes. Both Medicaid and private-pay riders name the hospital when they book. Medicaid covers rides to Medicaid-covered providers within your common medical marketing area (CMMA); for a hospital outside it, your referring provider must send MAS a Form 2020.
**Medicaid:** call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) 72+ hours ahead.
**Private pay:** call [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777).

## How Medicaid NEMT Handles Your Hospital Preference

You are free to choose your doctors and hospitals; the question for a Medicaid ride is what the ride covers. The New York State Department of Health's enrollee FAQ sets the rule: Medicaid covers transportation to providers that offer Medicaid-covered services and are located within your common medical marketing area (CMMA), the area your community customarily gets its medical care from, based on your home address. It also says enrollees are transported to the nearest qualified and appropriate provider that can meet their needs, and that each kind of care can have its own coverage area. So if your cardiologist practices at [Good Samaritan Hospital](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/good-samaritan-hospital/) in West Islip rather than at the hospital three blocks from your house, MAS (Medical Answering Services), New York's Medicaid transport broker, covers that ride when West Islip falls inside your CMMA for cardiology. A doctor's referral on its own does not oblige MAS to send a vehicle to a hospital outside it.

The practical rule: call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) at least three days before a routine appointment, state the exact hospital name and address, and give the reason for the appointment, which MAS lists among the details it needs to schedule a trip. When you book, request DachiPlus by name. MAS first sets the type of transportation your trip needs and then considers your choice of provider; we operate throughout Nassau and Suffolk County and know the hospital campuses well. You can also read the full process in our [MAS Medicaid guide](https://dachiplus.com/resources/mas-medicaid-guide/).

For a hospital outside your CMMA, preference alone is not enough. The ride is covered only if your referring provider completes and submits the state's Form 2020 confirming that the medically necessary care is not available within your CMMA. The state regulation, 18 NYCRR 505.10, lets MAS deny an out-of-area ride when the same care is available locally, and lets it approve one when you need to continue a course of care with a specific provider. Our guide to [Medicaid transportation forms](https://dachiplus.com/resources/medicaid-transportation-forms-ny/) explains who fills out Form 2020 and when.

## Private-Pay Riders: You Choose the Destination, Full Stop

Private-pay patients have the simplest situation — tell DachiPlus where to go and we go there. There is no prior authorization, no broker to call, and no requirement to justify why you want a particular hospital. If a Suffolk County patient wants transport from Huntington to [Stony Brook University Hospital](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/stony-brook-university-hospital/) in Stony Brook rather than a closer facility, that's a straightforward booking.

Payment is flexible: credit, debit, workers' comp, no-fault auto, long-term care insurance, and VA Community Care all accepted. Call [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777) Mon–Sat, 6 AM–8 PM to book. For trips that cross county lines or go beyond Long Island entirely, our [long-distance medical transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/long-distance-medical-transport/) service handles the logistics. Give us the destination and the appointment time and we work backward to a pickup window that gets you there on schedule.

If you're being discharged and a family member named a specific rehab hospital or skilled nursing facility rather than a general hospital, the same applies. Our [hospital discharge transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/hospital-discharge-transportation/) team coordinates directly with the discharge planner so nothing falls through.

## Which Long Island Hospitals DachiPlus Routinely Serves

DachiPlus transports patients to hospitals across Nassau and Suffolk County on a daily basis. On the Suffolk side, common destinations include [Huntington Hospital](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/huntington-hospital/), [Mather Hospital](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/mather-hospital/) in Port Jefferson, [St. Charles Hospital](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/st-charles-hospital/), [NYU Langone Hospital–Suffolk](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/nyu-langone-hospital-suffolk/), [Long Island Community Hospital](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/long-island-community-hospital/) in Patchogue, [Peconic Bay Medical Center](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/peconic-bay-medical-center/) in Riverhead, and [Stony Brook Southampton Hospital](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/stony-brook-southampton-hospital/). Nassau County trips frequently go to North Shore University Hospital, LIJ Medical Center, and NUMC (Nassau University Medical Center).

Knowing the campus layout matters more than people realize. A large academic medical center like Stony Brook can span multiple buildings; a driver who doesn't know which entrance serves outpatient surgery versus the emergency department wastes your time. DachiPlus drivers are familiar with the drop-off and wheelchair-accessible entrances at the facilities we serve most. For patients who use a wheelchair, our [wheelchair-accessible medical transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/wheelchair-transportation/) vehicles secure the chair in the vehicle and deliver you to the correct door.

## What to Do When Your Preferred Hospital Is Out of Network

"Out of network" means something different for NEMT than it does for health insurance. A hospital doesn't need to be in your insurer's network for DachiPlus to drive you there; transport and treatment are separate contracts. But for Medicaid specifically, the line that matters is your common medical marketing area, not a network. If the chosen hospital is outside it, which can happen with a specialist in New York City or out of state, your referring provider has to submit Form 2020 explaining why the care is not available closer to home.

Medicare Advantage plans sometimes include transportation benefits with their own network rules. Check with your plan before assuming coverage. Our [Medicare Advantage transportation benefits](https://dachiplus.com/resources/medicare-advantage-transportation-benefits/) article breaks down how those plans typically work, and our [Medicare Advantage coverage page](https://dachiplus.com/pay/medicare-advantage/) explains what DachiPlus accepts. If coverage falls short, private pay fills the gap without any paperwork delay.

Workers' comp and no-fault auto cases have their own authorization chains — the insurance adjuster typically designates an approved facility, but a treating physician can sometimes request a transfer to a specialist hospital. In those situations, DachiPlus coordinates with the insurer directly once authorization is confirmed.

## Tips for Getting the Ride Approved to Your Chosen Hospital

A few practical steps make the process faster, whether you're in Bay Shore or Centereach.

- **Ask your doctor's office early.** If the hospital is outside your area, the referring provider has to send MAS the Form 2020 before the ride can be covered, so raise it when the appointment is made, not the day before.
- **Book early.** MAS asks for three days' notice for routine appointments and seven days for long-distance travel. Those are minimums, so call sooner when you can.
- **Know your CIN.** Your Medicaid Client Identification Number speeds up the MAS call considerably. If you're not sure what it is, read our guide on [what a CIN number is](https://dachiplus.com/resources/what-is-a-cin-number-medicaid/).
- **Request DachiPlus by name.** MAS assigns trips among many providers. Within the type of transportation your trip needs, MAS says it considers the enrollee's choice of provider first, so asking for DachiPlus puts your preference on the record. It is not a guarantee: MAS can assign another provider when we have no availability.
- **Confirm the return trip.** If you're being seen at a hospital in Stony Brook but you live in Amityville, the [Amityville service area](https://dachiplus.com/service-area/suffolk-county/amityville/) is covered. Book the return at the same time as the outbound ride so you're not stranded after your appointment.
If something goes wrong — a ride never arrives or takes you to the wrong facility — document the time, driver name, and MAS confirmation number, then file a complaint with MAS and follow up with your Medicaid managed care plan. Our article on [what to do if you have issues with Medicaid transport](https://dachiplus.com/resources/what-if-i-have-issues-with-medicaid-transport/) walks through the exact steps.

## Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Name the hospital or clinic when you book with MAS at 1-844-666-6270, at least three days ahead for a routine appointment. Medicaid covers the ride when the provider offers Medicaid-covered services and is within your common medical marketing area (CMMA), the area your community usually gets its medical care from. For a hospital outside your CMMA, your referring provider has to submit Form 2020 to MAS, and approval is not guaranteed.

You can choose any medical provider, but the Department of Health says Medicaid covers the ride only to providers within your CMMA, and that enrollees are transported to the nearest qualified and appropriate provider that can meet their needs. A ride outside your CMMA is covered only if a referring provider completes the 2020 form confirming the medically necessary care is not available within it. State rules also allow approval when you need to continue a course of care with a specific provider outside the area. Without that, MAS may deny the out-of-area ride.

Yes. Private-pay riders set the destination. DachiPlus will transport you to any hospital in Nassau or Suffolk County — or beyond, for long-distance trips — based on whatever address you provide at booking.

DachiPlus primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk Counties, but long-distance medical transport to facilities outside that footprint is available. Call (516) 754-7777 to discuss the route and arrange a quote.

For Medicaid trips, MAS asks for your name and phone, the reason for the appointment, the appointment date and time, your pickup address, the facility's address, the type of transportation you need and, if you have one in mind, the transportation provider. Have your Medicaid CIN ready too. For a hospital outside your area, ask your referring provider's office whether they have sent MAS the 2020 form. For private pay, you just need the facility name, address, and your preferred pickup time.

## Sources

- [Medical Answering Services (MAS), the NY Medicaid transportation broker (home page: information needed to schedule a trip)](https://www.medanswering.com/)
- [NY State Dept. of Health: Medicaid Transportation Enrollee FAQs (question 10, how far MAS will authorize travel)](https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/members/faqs.htm)
- [NY Codes, Rules and Regulations: 18 NYCRR 505.10, Transportation for medical care and services (common medical marketing area, (d)(5) and (d)(12))](https://regs.health.ny.gov/content/section-50510-transportation-medical-care-and-services)
- [MAS: FAQ for Enrollees (the 2020 Outside Common Medical Marketing Area form; how vendors are assigned)](https://wp2.medanswering.com/enrollees/faq-enrollees/)
- [MAS: Scheduling Guidelines (how far ahead to book)](https://wp2.medanswering.com/enrollees/scheduling-guidelines/)
- [NY State Dept. of Health — Medicaid Transportation for Members](https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/members/)
- [CMS — Non-Emergency Medical Transportation in Medicaid](https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/assurance-of-transportation)

## Book a Ride to the Hospital You Need

DachiPlus serves Nassau and Suffolk Counties, Long Island, and transports patients to their chosen hospital — not just the nearest one. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles, ambulette service, and standard sedans available.

**Medicaid patients:** call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) at least 72 hours before your appointment and request DachiPlus by name. **Private pay / all other insurance:** call DachiPlus directly at [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777), Mon–Sat 6 AM–8 PM.

## A ride home after surgery or a hospital stay

Most hospitals and surgery centers will not let you drive yourself home after anesthesia. A DachiPlus driver picks you up when you are released, takes it slow, and has room for crutches or a walker and a seat for a family member.

## Related resources

Part of our guide to [rides after a hospital stay or surgery](https://dachiplus.com/resources/topics/hospital-discharge-and-surgery/).

## Hospital Discharge Transportation on Long Island — A Planning Guide

## Can They Transport Someone Between Facilities?

## Can You Hire a Driver Home From Surgery?

## Long-Distance Transport After Surgery