# Hospital discharge transportation on Long Island — a planning guide

> Planning medical transport after a hospital discharge in Nassau or Suffolk County. Medicaid, private pay, and how to coordinate with the hospital discharge planning team.

Source: https://dachiplus.com/resources/hospital-discharge-transportation-guide/

Updated May 2026

Hospital discharge transportation is arranged same-day through MAS (for Medicaid members) or directly with DachiPlus (private pay). Medicaid covers discharge trips — the hospital discharge planner can initiate the MAS request on the patient's behalf. For private pay or urgent discharge needs, call DachiPlus at [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777) — we typically confirm within 30 minutes.

Hospital discharges are unpredictable by nature — discharge times shift, conditions change, and families are often scrambling. This guide explains how transportation works so you can plan ahead.

## Arranging transport for hospital discharge

- **Get the discharge time from the care team** — Ask the nurse or case manager for the expected discharge window so the ride can be scheduled.
- **Book the ride** — Medicaid: call MAS at 1-844-666-6270 and request DachiPlus. Private pay or insurance: call DachiPlus at (516) 754-7777.
- **Confirm destination and mobility needs** — Home, rehab, or skilled nursing — and whether a wheelchair-accessible vehicle is needed.
- **DachiPlus coordinates with discharge planning** — We work with case managers so pickup timing matches the actual discharge.
- **Door-through-door ride** — The driver assists from the hospital room area to the vehicle and into your destination.
- **Settled safely at home or facility** — You arrive without the stress of arranging a last-minute ride.

## Why is hospital discharge transportation different from a regular NEMT trip?

Standard Medicaid NEMT trips require 72 hours advance notice. Hospital discharges are an explicit exception — they are booked same-day because the discharge date is rarely known 72 hours in advance.

Other differences from a routine medical trip:

- The patient may be in a wheelchair, on a walker, or less mobile than their baseline due to the reason for hospitalization.
- The destination may be home, a rehabilitation facility, a skilled nursing facility (SNF), or a family member's home — sometimes decided the morning of discharge.
- Medication, discharge paperwork, and bedside pickup coordination are involved — the driver cannot simply wait at the curb.
- The timing is often vague until the last hour — "morning discharge" can mean 10 AM or 2 PM.

## How does Medicaid cover hospital discharge transportation?

Hospital discharges back to the patient's home are explicitly covered under [New York Medicaid NEMT policy](https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/members/medtrans_overview.htm). The trip is booked through [MAS](https://wp2.medanswering.com/) at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270), with the same-day urgent exception applied. The hospital discharge planning team is often aware of the MAS process and can help initiate the request.

## How do I arrange discharge transportation through MAS?

Either the patient (or family) or the hospital discharge planner can call MAS. When calling:

- Call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) — explain it is a same-day hospital discharge.
- Provide the patient's Medicaid CIN, the hospital name and address, the anticipated discharge time, and the destination address.
- Describe the patient's current mobility status (can they walk, do they need a wheelchair, is there a walker or medical equipment to transport?).
- Request DachiPlus as the provider.
- Get a confirmation number and confirm the driver's estimated arrival time.
Because discharge times shift, call MAS as early in the day as possible — even if the exact time is unknown. You can call back to confirm when discharge is imminent.

## Can the hospital help arrange my discharge transportation?

Yes, and they often do. The hospital's **discharge planning team** (social workers and care coordinators) are familiar with the MAS process and can initiate the transportation request on behalf of a Medicaid patient. If you're a Medicaid member being discharged, ask your nurse or the unit social worker to contact MAS for you.

For facility-contracted patients: if your facility has a contract with DachiPlus, the discharge team can reach us directly at [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777) to arrange the discharge trip without going through MAS.

## What if I need same-day discharge transportation as a private-pay patient?

Call DachiPlus at [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777) as early as possible on the day of discharge. We typically confirm private-pay same-day requests within 30 minutes and can often dispatch within 1–2 hours depending on fleet availability. Tell us:

- The hospital name, address, and floor/unit if known.
- The expected discharge time window (e.g., "between 11 AM and 1 PM").
- The destination address.
- The patient's current mobility status and any equipment (wheelchair, IV pole, walker).
- Whether a family member will be at the hospital to help coordinate.

## "Discharged" and "ready to leave" are hours apart

The most common cause of a failed discharge pickup is booking against the wrong moment. A doctor writing a discharge order in the morning is the start of a process, not the end of one: pharmacy has to dispense take-home medication, nursing has to complete discharge teaching and remove any lines, equipment may need to be delivered, and transport is often the last item on a list nobody is coordinating centrally. Two to four hours between the order and the patient actually being at the door is ordinary rather than exceptional.

Book from the nurse's estimate rather than the doctor's word, and ask the ward to call when the paperwork is genuinely complete. Where the trip is going to a [rehabilitation or skilled nursing placement](https://dachiplus.com/who-we-serve/seniors/) rather than home, confirm the receiving facility can actually accept the arrival time — a bed that is available in principle at four o'clock is not always available in practice, and arriving before the facility is ready is its own problem.

## What to check before the vehicle is called

A few minutes on the ward saves a great deal afterwards. Confirm the mobility level the patient is leaving with, not the one they arrived with — surgery, a long admission, or a new device frequently changes it, and a sedan booked against the old assumption will not do. Ask whether they can manage stairs, because the home they are returning to may have them even if the hospital does not.

Check the destination address independently rather than relying on a verbal handover, particularly for large campuses with several entrances — [Stony Brook University Hospital](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/stony-brook-university-hospital/), [North Shore University Hospital](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/north-shore-university-hospital/) in Manhasset and [Good Samaritan](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/good-samaritan-hospital/) in West Islip all have discharge points that are some distance from the main entrance a driver would otherwise head for. Establish who will be at the other end: a discharge to an empty house is worth knowing about in advance, since door-through-door assistance ends at the door and someone should be there to receive the patient. And make sure the take-home medication is actually in hand before the vehicle leaves — returning to collect a prescription is a second trip nobody has authorised.

## What should I tell DachiPlus when booking a discharge trip?

Give us as much specificity as possible: hospital building entrance (main entrance vs. a side or specialty entrance), the floor or unit, any discharge paperwork or equipment the patient is bringing home, and a cell phone number for the family member at the bedside. This prevents the driver from circling the parking lot or going to the wrong entrance during a high-stress pickup.

## Discharge transportation — FAQ

## How do I book Medicaid medical transportation in Suffolk or Nassau County?

In New York, Medicaid transportation is coordinated through Medical Answering Services (MAS) at 1-844-666-6270. You call MAS at least 72 hours before your appointment, provide your Medicaid ID, appointment information, and any mobility needs, and request that DachiPlus be assigned as your provider. MAS will confirm the trip and notify us to dispatch a vehicle.

## What happens if I miss my Medicaid transport pickup?

If you miss your scheduled pickup, call DachiPlus directly at (516) 754-7777 as soon as possible. Depending on the timing and our availability, we may be able to dispatch another vehicle, or you may need to contact MAS to reschedule. Repeated no-shows can affect future trip approvals.

## How much does private-pay medical transportation cost on Long Island?

Private-pay rates depend on trip type, distance, and vehicle. Ambulatory trips within Suffolk or Nassau typically start around $50–$75. Wheelchair-accessible trips start around $90–$120. Long-distance trips are quoted by route. Wait time and return trips may carry additional charges. Call (516) 754-7777 for an exact quote.

## Can I book a private-pay ride for today?

Yes, when vehicles are available. Same-day private booking depends on driver availability and pickup location. Call (516) 754-7777 to check; we confirm or decline same-day requests within the call.

## Sources

- [Medical Answering Services (MAS) — NY Medicaid transportation broker](https://www.medanswering.com/)
- [NY State Dept. of Health — Medicaid for Members](https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/members/)

## Related resources

## Airport Wheelchair Tipping & Ambulette Guide

## Dialysis Transportation Nassau County Jobs Guide

## Dialysis Transportation Nassau County: Vehicle Guide

## Does Medicare Cover Medical Transportation? Complete 2026 Guide