# The Medicaid 72-Hour Rule: How Far Ahead to Book Rides in New York

> NY Medicaid requires 72 business hours advance notice to book NEMT through MAS. Learn the rule, same-day exceptions, standing orders, and what to tell MAS when you call.

Source: https://dachiplus.com/resources/medicaid-72-hour-rule-ny/

Updated June 2026

MAS Booking Line

Call at least 72 hours before your appointment

**New York Medicaid requires you to call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) at least 72 business hours — three business days — before your appointment. Same-day urgent trips exist but require physician documentation. Standing orders for recurring trips bypass the rule entirely.**

The single most common reason Medicaid members miss their transportation is missing the 72-hour booking window. Understanding this rule — and the exceptions that let you work around it — makes the difference between a confirmed ride and a scramble the morning of your appointment.

## The 72-hour Medicaid rule at a glance

## What exactly is the 72-hour Medicaid transportation rule?

New York State Medicaid policy requires that members request Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) at least **72 business hours before the appointment**. MAS uses this lead time to verify your Medicaid eligibility, confirm the appointment is covered, and assign a credentialed provider in your area.

"72 business hours" means three business days — not three calendar days. Weekends and New York State holidays do not count. In practice:

- Monday appointment → call by the previous Wednesday (end of business)
- Wednesday appointment → call by the previous Friday morning
- Monday appointment after a holiday weekend → may require calling the Thursday before
When in doubt, call MAS earlier than you think you need to. There is no penalty for booking too far in advance. The MAS number is [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270).

## What happens if you miss the 72-hour window?

If you call MAS fewer than three business days before your appointment, the standard response is a denial — MAS will tell you the request is too short notice and cannot be processed under routine booking. Options at that point:

- **Request an urgent exception.** If a physician has documented urgency — a follow-up required within 24–48 hours, a test that must be done before a procedure — MAS has an urgent line and can approve short-notice bookings. Explain the situation clearly.
- **Book private pay with DachiPlus.** DachiPlus accepts same-day and next-day bookings for private-pay patients. Call [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777). No advance notice requirement.
- **Reschedule the appointment.** If the appointment can be moved to a date that allows proper notice, that is the cleanest option for ongoing Medicaid coverage.

## When does MAS approve same-day Medicaid transportation?

MAS does process same-day and short-notice trips in specific situations:

- **Urgent physician referrals** — when the ordering provider documents that the patient must be seen within 24 hours and the situation is not 911-level emergency.
- **Hospital discharges** — these are coordinated same-day with the hospital case manager, social worker, or discharge planner contacting MAS directly. Patients do not need to call themselves for a hospital discharge trip.
- **Dialysis urgent trips** — if a standing-order dialysis patient misses a trip due to a provider issue, MAS can sometimes dispatch same-day.
For hospital discharges specifically, the discharge team handles MAS coordination. Patients or families should inform the team that they want DachiPlus assigned for the Nassau or Suffolk County return trip.

## What information do you need when calling MAS?

Before you dial [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270), have these ready:

- **Medicaid CIN number** — the 8-character code on the front of your Medicaid card (format: two letters, five numbers, one letter)
- **Appointment date and exact time**
- **Medical provider name and full street address**
- **Your home pickup address**
- **Mobility needs** — ambulatory, uses a walker/cane, wheelchair user, needs oxygen
- **Whether a companion will be present**
- **Your preferred provider name: DachiPlus**
Having this information ready before the call typically cuts call time in half and reduces the chance of booking errors.

## How do standing orders completely bypass the 72-hour rule?

Standing orders are how recurring treatment escapes the weekly booking call entirely, which is why they matter most for [dialysis transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/dialysis-transportation/) and other three-times-a-week schedules. If you have recurring appointments on a fixed schedule, you should not be calling MAS before every single trip. A **standing order** is a pre-authorized repeating trip schedule that MAS maintains on file. Once active, every trip within the standing order is automatically confirmed — no individual booking call required.

Standing orders are most common for:

- Dialysis — typically three times per week (Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday)
- Weekly or bi-weekly chemotherapy
- Daily radiation therapy cycles (which usually run five days per week for several weeks)
- Recurring physical therapy schedules
To set up a standing order: call MAS and request one. Provide the schedule — days of the week, appointment times, treatment facility address, duration of the standing order period (typically 3 or 6 months). Request DachiPlus as your assigned provider. Your medical provider's office can also submit standing order paperwork directly to MAS on your behalf.

DachiPlus strongly recommends standing orders for all dialysis patients. Driver continuity matters — the same driver knowing your building, your routine, and your medical situation reduces stress and improves on-time performance.

## Frequently Asked Questions

The MAS (Medical Answering Services) booking line is 1-844-666-6270. Call Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 6 PM. For urgent same-day needs, there is also a weekend and after-hours urgent line at the same number — follow the prompts.

The 72-hour rule refers to business days, not calendar hours. In practice, MAS interprets this as three business days before the appointment date. If your appointment is on a Wednesday, the deadline to call MAS is typically the previous Friday morning. Weekends and state holidays do not count toward business days.

MAS can approve same-day trips when a physician documents urgent medical necessity. Call MAS at 1-844-666-6270 and explain the situation. If MAS cannot accommodate the request, DachiPlus offers private-pay same-day transportation at (516) 754-7777 — no advance notice required.

Have ready: your Medicaid CIN (the 8-character code on your Medicaid card), the appointment date and exact time, the medical provider's full name and street address, your home pickup address, and your mobility needs (ambulatory, walker, wheelchair). Also have the name of the provider you are requesting — DachiPlus for Nassau or Suffolk County.

Yes. Once a standing order is active in the MAS system, individual trips within the standing order are pre-authorized. You do not need to call MAS before each trip. This is the standard arrangement for dialysis (three times per week), recurring chemotherapy, and other regular treatment schedules.

## 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

## How to Book Medicaid Transportation in New York

## Free Transportation for Medicaid Patients in New York — Who Qualifies

## How to Find a Medicaid Transportation Provider in New York

## Medicaid Transportation Eligibility in New York