# What Medical Conditions Need Transport? A Guide to NEMT Eligibility on Long Island > Which conditions qualify for non-emergency medical transportation near me (Medicaid NY)? Dialysis, cancer, stroke & more on Long Island. Call (516) 754-7777. Source: https://dachiplus.com/resources/what-medical-conditions-need-transport/ Updated August 2026 If you're searching for non-emergency medical transportation near me (Medicaid NY), the conditions that most often qualify include dialysis (ESRD), cancer treatment, post-surgery recovery, stroke, dementia, and any impairment that makes driving or the bus unsafe. On Long Island, DachiPlus serves Nassau and Suffolk Counties for exactly these needs. Call [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777) or Medicaid patients call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270). Conditions needing NEMT include dialysis, chemo/radiation, post-surgery, stroke, dementia, cardiac rehab, wound care, TBI, and wheelchair mobility. Medicaid covers rides when you lack safe transport. **Medicaid:** call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270). **Private pay:** call [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777). ## The core rule: it's the need, not just the diagnosis Non-emergency medical transportation is approved based on need for safe travel, not a diagnosis alone. New York Medicaid covers a ride when you have a covered appointment and no other safe, available way to reach it — whether that's because you can't drive, can't safely ride a bus, or use a wheelchair. Across Nassau and Suffolk Counties, that combination describes tens of thousands of residents. A hamlet like Coram or Middle Island may have limited transit, so a chronic condition plus no license already meets the threshold. To understand the program itself, our overview of [what NEMT is](https://dachiplus.com/resources/what-is-nemt/) and the guide to [Non-Emergency Medical Transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/non-emergency-medical-transportation/) lay out the basics. Medicaid coordinates these rides through MAS; private-pay riders skip eligibility review entirely. Either way, the deciding question is simple: without help, could you get to and from this appointment safely? If the answer is no, transport is warranted — and DachiPlus books it across Long Island. ## Dialysis, cancer, and infusion: the recurring-treatment conditions Chronic conditions that require frequent, scheduled treatment are the most common reason patients need NEMT on Long Island. End-stage renal disease means three-times-weekly dialysis, and post-treatment fatigue makes driving unsafe — which is why [dialysis transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/dialysis-transportation/) to centers like Fresenius Bay Shore, Fresenius Coram, or DaVita Smithtown is one of our steadiest services; see our page for [dialysis patients](https://dachiplus.com/who-we-serve/dialysis-patients/). Cancer care follows a similar rhythm: chemotherapy and radiation cycles leave patients too weak to drive, so [chemotherapy and oncology transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/chemotherapy-transportation/) and [radiation therapy transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/radiation-therapy-transportation/) keep appointments at Stony Brook University Hospital or Good Samaritan Hospital on schedule. Autoimmune and neurological patients often need standing [infusion therapy transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/infusion-therapy-transportation/) as well. Missing these sessions isn't an inconvenience — it's a health risk, which is why Medicaid treats reliable transport for them as medically necessary. ## Post-surgery, stroke, and mobility: conditions that change how you travel Recovery-phase conditions — after surgery, a stroke, or a serious injury — qualify because they temporarily or permanently change how a patient can safely move. Hospital discharge is a classic example: sedation, incisions, and new equipment mean you can't drive yourself home, so [hospital discharge transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/hospital-discharge-transportation/) from Huntington Hospital, Mather Hospital, or St. Charles Hospital is essential. Stroke survivors frequently need ongoing [physical therapy and rehabilitation transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/physical-therapy-transportation/); our [post-stroke rehab](https://dachiplus.com/who-we-serve/post-stroke-rehab/) page covers that journey. Patients who use a wheelchair need a vehicle with a lift or ramp and proper securement — that's [wheelchair transportation on Long Island](https://dachiplus.com/services/wheelchair-transportation/), and it's very different from ordinary wheelchair taxis. Cardiac patients rebuilding strength rely on [cardiac rehabilitation transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/cardiac-rehab-transportation/), while brain-injury survivors may need specialized [TBI transport](https://dachiplus.com/services/traumatic-brain-injury-transportation/). Each condition shapes the vehicle and level of assistance assigned. ## Memory care, behavioral health, and other conditions that need supervision Some conditions qualify not because of physical limits but because the patient needs supervision or a calm, trained driver. Dementia and Alzheimer's patients can wander, become disoriented, or resist unfamiliar routines — so families across Nassau County turn to our [memory care](https://dachiplus.com/who-we-serve/memory-care/) transport for appointments and to [adult day programs](https://dachiplus.com/services/adult-day-program-transportation/) like Parker Jewish or Cold Spring Hills Adult Day. Behavioral and mental-health conditions likewise benefit from [mental health and behavioral health transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/mental-health-transportation/), and patients in recovery use [substance use and addiction treatment transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/substance-use-transportation/) to stay in program. Chronic wounds requiring frequent debridement or hyperbaric visits qualify for [wound care transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/wound-care-transportation/). Seniors managing multiple conditions at once often use [senior medical transportation](https://dachiplus.com/services/senior-medical-transportation/) for the whole picture. In every case, the theme is the same: the condition makes independent travel unsafe or impractical, and a trained NEMT driver bridges the gap across Suffolk County. ## How to confirm your condition qualifies and book on Long Island To confirm eligibility, Medicaid members call MAS — the NYS Medicaid transportation phone number is [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) — at least 72 hours before the appointment. MAS verifies your covered service and assigns the correct level of transport (livery, wheelchair van, or ambulette). Read our [MAS Medicaid guide](https://dachiplus.com/resources/mas-medicaid-guide/) and the step-by-step of [how Medicaid coverage works](https://dachiplus.com/how-it-works/medicaid/) so the call goes smoothly; the [72-hour rule](https://dachiplus.com/resources/medicaid-72-hour-rule-ny/) explains timing. Not sure whether your specific situation counts? Our list of [who needs non-emergency medical transport](https://dachiplus.com/resources/who-needs-non-emergency-medical-transport/) is a quick self-check. If you're not on Medicaid, DachiPlus books private-pay, Medicare Advantage, no-fault auto, workers' comp, VA Community Care, and long-term care insurance rides directly — see all [coverage and payment options](https://dachiplus.com/pay/). Whatever your condition, from a dialysis chair in Brentwood to a discharge at NYU Langone Hospital Suffolk, call DachiPlus at [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777) to arrange safe transport. ## Frequently Asked Questions Conditions that limit safe self-driving or public transit qualify — dialysis (ESRD), cancer treatment, post-surgery recovery, stroke rehab, dementia, mobility impairments requiring a wheelchair, TBI, cardiac rehab, wound care, and behavioral health needs. Medicaid covers rides to any covered service when you lack safe transportation. For Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation in New York, call Medical Answering Services (MAS) at 1-844-666-6270 at least 72 hours before your appointment and request DachiPlus by name. MAS is the state's transportation manager for Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Not automatically. Medicaid covers NEMT when you have a covered appointment AND lack another safe way to get there. Your provider may need to confirm a medical need (like a wheelchair or ambulette). MAS verifies eligibility and the appropriate level of transport. For basic rides, usually no — MAS confirms eligibility by phone. For wheelchair or ambulette service, a practitioner may need to certify the medical need on record with MAS. Private-pay riders through DachiPlus don't need any note; just call (516) 754-7777. Often yes. Medicaid allows an escort when medically necessary — for a minor, a memory-care patient, or someone needing assistance. Confirm the escort with MAS when you book so the vehicle is assigned correctly for your Long Island trip. ## Sources - [NY State Dept. of Health — Medicaid for Members](https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/members/) - [Medical Answering Services (MAS) — NY Medicaid Transportation Manager](https://www.medanswering.com/) - [Medicaid.gov — Medicaid Benefits](https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/index.html) ## Book NEMT on Long Island Whatever your medical condition, DachiPlus arranges safe, appropriate transport across Nassau and Suffolk Counties — dialysis, chemo, discharge, rehab, memory care, and more. **Medicaid patients:** call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) at least 72 hours before your appointment and request DachiPlus. **Private pay:** call DachiPlus directly at [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777). ## Related resources ## Ambulette Service Near Me for Seniors ## Conditions That Stop You Driving ## Do You Need a Driver for Dialysis? ## Medicaid vs Private Pay Medical Transportation: Which Do You Need?