Does Medicaid cover transportation to mental health appointments in New York?
Yes. New York Medicaid's NEMT benefit 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 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.
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 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.