# NEMT for mental health appointments in New York

> Does Medicaid cover transportation to mental health appointments in New York? Yes — therapy, psychiatry, methadone clinics, and substance use treatment all qualify.

Source: https://dachiplus.com/resources/nemt-mental-health-appointments-ny/

Updated May 2026

Yes — New York Medicaid covers transportation to mental health and substance use treatment appointments. This includes therapy, psychiatry, methadone clinics, and opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Book through MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) at least 72 hours in advance and request **DachiPlus**. Private pay also available at [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777).

Mental health transportation is one of the most underutilized Medicaid benefits. Many patients don't realize their therapy or medication appointments qualify for free rides.

## Transport to mental health & substance-use care

## Does Medicaid cover transportation to mental health appointments in New York?

Yes. [New York Medicaid's NEMT benefit](https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/members/medtrans_overview.htm) covers transportation to any appointment for a Medicaid-covered service. Mental health services covered by Medicaid — including outpatient therapy, psychiatric medication management, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) — all qualify for transportation coverage.

The booking process is identical to any other Medicaid trip: call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) at least 72 hours in advance, provide your Medicaid CIN and appointment details, and request DachiPlus.

## What types of mental health trips does New York Medicaid NEMT cover?

Medicaid NEMT transportation covers trips to any of the following mental health services, as long as those services are covered under your Medicaid plan:

- Individual and group therapy (outpatient behavioral health clinics, private practices)
- Psychiatric evaluation and medication management appointments
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) and day treatment programs
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
- Mental health and substance use community health centers
- Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs
- Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and methadone clinics
- HARP-enrolled services (Health and Recovery Plan)

## How do I book Medicaid transportation to a therapy or psychiatry appointment?

The process is the same as any Medicaid trip through MAS:

- **Confirm the appointment** with your provider first — MAS requires a confirmed appointment, not a tentative one.
- **Call MAS at 1-844-666-6270** at least 72 hours before the appointment.
- **Provide:** your Medicaid CIN, appointment date and time, provider name and address, and your pickup address.
- **Request DachiPlus** as your provider.
- **Get your confirmation number.**
If you have weekly or bi-weekly appointments, ask MAS about a **standing order** — it eliminates the need to call before every trip.

## Does Medicaid cover transportation to methadone clinics in New York?

Yes. Opioid treatment programs (OTPs), including methadone clinics, are Medicaid-covered services, and transportation to these appointments qualifies for NEMT coverage. Because methadone treatment typically requires daily or near-daily attendance during the initial phase, a standing order is especially practical for these trips.

Note: for early morning methadone pickups (many clinics open at 5–6 AM), confirm MAS can authorize a trip for that time window. Some very early pickups may require advance coordination.

## Privacy on a mental health or treatment trip

This is the concern riders raise most often and ask about least, so it is worth answering directly. A driver is told a pickup address, a destination and the assistance you need. They are not given a diagnosis, a reason for the appointment, or any clinical detail, and they have no access to your medical record. If the destination happens to be a recognisable facility, that is simply where the vehicle is going — it is not information anyone has disclosed about you.

Two practical points follow. Vehicles are not marked in a way that announces the nature of the trip, which matters to people who would rather a neighbour not draw conclusions from a pickup three mornings a week. And if you would prefer to be collected somewhere other than your front door — the corner, a side entrance, a relative's address — you can simply ask when booking. It is a routine request and needs no explanation.

## Why consistency matters more here than almost anywhere

Missed appointments carry a different weight in behavioural health than in most other specialties. Therapeutic momentum depends on regular attendance, opioid treatment programmes often operate on daily dosing schedules where a missed day has immediate clinical consequences, and both frequently sit inside a treatment plan where attendance is monitored. A transport failure is therefore not merely an inconvenience to be rebooked; it can set back weeks of progress or jeopardise a place in a programme.

That is the argument for putting recurring behavioural health trips on a standing order rather than booking them individually, in exactly the way [dialysis transport](https://dachiplus.com/services/dialysis-transportation/) is handled. One authorisation covers the pattern, the same arrangement recurs without a weekly phone call, and there is no opportunity for a single missed booking to become a missed week. If your schedule is stable, ask MAS to set one up on your next call — it is the single most effective thing you can do to make the transport reliable.

DachiPlus runs these trips across both counties, to inpatient and outpatient behavioural health services alike — [South Oaks Hospital](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/south-oaks-hospital/) in Amityville among them, along with the psychiatric and outpatient programmes attached to the major Nassau and Suffolk hospitals, and the clinic and treatment-programme addresses that make up most of the recurring work. Whether the destination is in Hempstead, Huntington or out towards Riverhead, the booking route is the same: [MAS at 1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) for Medicaid, or [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777) directly for private pay.

## What if I need same-day transportation for a mental health crisis?

Medicaid's standard 72-hour rule generally does not apply to urgent or crisis situations. If a mental health provider has referred you for same-day or urgent care, call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) and explain the urgent situation. MAS has an urgent line and can authorize same-day trips when documented urgency exists.

For immediate crisis transportation, call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or 911 for emergency psychiatric transport — NEMT is not appropriate for active psychiatric emergencies.

## Mental health NEMT — 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.

## How far in advance do I need to schedule a Medicaid ride in New York?

New York State requires Medicaid transportation requests be made at least three business days (72 hours) before your appointment. Urgent or same-day medical needs may qualify for expedited scheduling — call MAS at 1-844-666-6270 to confirm.

## How much does Medicaid medical transportation cost?

Medicaid medical transportation is free to eligible Medicaid members. There is no copay, fare, or out-of-pocket cost for trips approved through MAS. The provider bills Medicaid directly.

## 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

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

## How to Book Medicaid Transportation in New York

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

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