How to schedule a ride with MAS: the phone call, step by step

The Step-by-Step MAS Call for Babylon Dialysis Rides

Scheduling a MAS ride to dialysis in Babylon takes one phone call to 1-844-666-6270, but having your details ready makes it fast. MAS (Medical Answering Services) is New York's contracted broker for Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation, so every Medicaid-covered trip in Suffolk County runs through them first. Before you dial, gather your Medicaid Client Identification Number (CIN), your dialysis center's name and address, your treatment schedule, and your home pickup address. When you reach MAS, specify whether you need standard livery or a wheelchair van, and ask for DachiPlus by name. New York's Medicaid Transportation Policy Manual tells the broker to assign trips "based first upon the medically appropriate mode of transportation, then by enrollee's choice among participating transportation vendors, and finally, at the discretion of the transportation broker." So MAS first decides the right type of transportation for your trip, then considers your choice of provider among the companies enrolled for that type. Naming your provider is how you ask for familiar drivers on your route through hamlets like North Babylon and Deer Park. When MAS assigns the trip to us, we drive it. If you're new to the process, our Mas Medicaid Guide walks through each screen the operator sees, and Medicaid coverage explains how billing flows so you pay nothing at the curb. DachiPlus provides Dialysis Transportation throughout Babylon (Suffolk) service area.

The 72-Hour Rule and Standing Orders for Dialysis

MAS requires standard Babylon trips to be booked at least 72 hours ahead, but dialysis patients get a smarter option: the standing order. Because most dialysis patients in Suffolk County treat three times a week — often at Fresenius Bay Shore, Fresenius Lindenhurst, or a nearby DaVita — your dialysis center or doctor's office can request a standing order through MAS so you don't re-call before every session. Only your medical provider's office can enter a standing order; MAS does not accept standing orders from members, family members, or transportation companies, so this is not something you set up on your own MAS call. When the office enters it, ask them to list DachiPlus as your preferred transportation provider. This matters: missing the 72-hour window on a one-off trip can cause a denial, and no one wants to scramble the morning of treatment. A standing order lasts up to six months and does not renew on its own, so ask your provider's office to renew it before it ends, and to update it if your schedule changes, rather than letting it lapse. Our deep-dive on the Medicaid 72 Hour Rule Ny covers exceptions, including urgent hospital discharges, which follow an expedited path. For patients who dialyze in Babylon, Copiague, or Amityville, standing orders eliminate weekly phone stress. Learn who's eligible for this benefit in our overview for Dialysis Patients, and see county-specific rules in the Medicaid Transportation Suffolk County guide.

What Level of Ride to Request: Livery vs. Wheelchair Van

Tell MAS the exact level of service you need, because the mode is tied to your medical documentation, not your preference. If you can walk to a car and transfer yourself, standard ambulatory livery is authorized. If you use a wheelchair, MAS authorizes a wheelchair van (sometimes called an ambulette) based on a note from your treating provider. Unlike the wheelchair taxis some riders find online, a Medicaid-authorized wheelchair van secures your chair properly and can offer transfer-to-seat when that's safer. DachiPlus provides Wheelchair User Medical Transportation across Long Island, and our Ambulette Service runs via licensed WAV partners for higher-need trips. Confused about which is right? The plain-English breakdown in Ambulette Vs Ambulance Vs Wheelchair Van and Wheelchair Van Explained compares them side by side. When MAS asks about mobility during your Babylon booking, be specific — the right authorization means the right vehicle shows up, whether you're headed to a Suffolk dialysis chair or a Huntington clinic. Getting this wrong is the most common cause of a re-booked trip.

If You Don't Have Medicaid: Private Pay in Babylon

If you're not on Medicaid, you skip MAS entirely and book directly with DachiPlus at (516) 754-7777. There's no broker, no 72-hour rule, and no CIN — just a phone call. This is the right path for families who need a one-time ride, out-of-network appointments, or trips MAS won't cover. We accept credit and debit cards, Medicare Advantage coverage, No Fault Auto coverage, Workers Comp coverage, long-term care insurance, and VA Community Care. Some Medicare Advantage plans bundle a set number of NEMT trips per year — worth checking, since it can cover Babylon dialysis runs at no cost. Private pay is also useful for non-medical errands where Medicaid doesn't apply, like a pharmacy stop after treatment. To weigh the trade-offs, read Medicaid Vs Private Pay and browse all Coverage & payment options. Whether it's a standing dialysis run or a one-off specialist visit, our team serves the whole Suffolk County service area.

Common MAS Scheduling Mistakes to Avoid

The two mistakes that derail a MAS booking are calling too late and giving incomplete information. MAS operators cannot authorize a standard trip inside the 72-hour window without an eligible exception, so a last-minute call for a routine Babylon appointment often bounces. The fix is simple: book early, and for recurring dialysis ask your dialysis center to request a standing order through MAS. The second pitfall is a wrong or missing detail: an outdated address, the wrong appointment time, or forgetting to ask for DachiPlus by name, which leaves the choice of company to MAS. Double-check your CIN and confirm your dialysis center's exact street address; centers with similar names across Suffolk (several Fresenius and DaVita locations) can be confused. A quick eligibility check saves grief: see Medicaid Transportation Eligibility Ny and our step-by-step How To Book Medicaid Transportation Ny. If MAS denies a trip, ask the operator why on the call — most denials are fixable on the spot. For general NEMT context, What Is Nemt explains the whole system. DachiPlus also handles Hospital Discharge Transportation for Suffolk residents leaving Good Samaritan or Southside.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NYS Medicaid transportation phone number?

For Nassau and Suffolk Counties, call Medical Answering Services (MAS) at 1-844-666-6270 to schedule a Medicaid ride. Request DachiPlus by name and book at least 72 hours before your appointment. MAS is the statewide broker that authorizes Medicaid NEMT trips.

How far ahead do I need to schedule a MAS ride to dialysis in Babylon?

Book routine rides with MAS at least 72 hours (3 days) before your appointment. For recurring dialysis in Babylon, ask your dialysis center to request a standing order through MAS so you don't call before every session; only your medical provider's office can enter one. Urgent, same-day hospital discharges have a separate expedited process.

Does MAS pay for wheelchair van transport?

Yes. When your medical provider documents that you need a wheelchair van or ambulette, MAS authorizes that level of service. DachiPlus provides wheelchair-accessible transport across Babylon and Suffolk County, securing the chair or offering transfer-to-seat as appropriate.

Can I request a specific transportation company through MAS?

You can ask. When you call MAS at 1-844-666-6270 to book a ride, you can ask for DachiPlus by name for your Nassau or Suffolk County trips. MAS first decides the right type of transportation for your trip, then considers your choice of provider among the companies enrolled for that type. If your dialysis rides run on a standing order, also ask your dialysis center to list DachiPlus as your preferred transportation provider.

What if I only need a ride once and don't have Medicaid?

You can skip MAS entirely and book private pay directly with DachiPlus at (516) 754-7777. We accept credit/debit, Medicare Advantage, no-fault auto, workers' comp, long-term care insurance, and VA Community Care.

Sources

• NY State Dept. of Health — Medicaid for Members
• Medical Answering Services (MAS) — NY Medicaid Transportation
• Suffolk County, NY — Official Site
• NYS Department of Health: Medicaid Transportation Standing Order Policy and Procedure, effective October 1, 2020 (published by MAS)
• eMedNY: NYS Medicaid Transportation Policy Manual, section 2.3 Prior Authorization, effective August 25, 2023
• MAS: FAQ for Enrollees (how vendors are determined for Medicaid transportation)