Non-Emergency Medical Transportation

Handbook Content

Terms and Meanings

Some terms that we use in this chapter may not be familiar. These terms and their meanings are listed below.

  • Approved/Authorized: The decision Medicaid makes to pay for a service.
  • Facility: A health care building or practice.
  • Long-Term Care: Cares for elderly or disabled members to get in their homes, communities, or facilities.
  • Provider: A doctor, nurse, therapist, or another qualified health care professional.
  • Services: Care, treatments, testing, checkups, equipment, supplies, and other ways your health care providers help you stay healthy.
  • Transportation: Being given a ride.

Medicaid pays for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT). This service is for members who need help getting to their covered medical service appointments with enrolled Medicaid providers. This includes going to medical appointments, getting your Durable Medical Equipment (DME), and filling your medication prescriptions. Members may use enrolled public transport providers, taxis, personal vehicle transport, non-emergency ambulances, stretcher vans or wheelchair vans, train, air transport, and transportation network companies. 

Travel expenses are only covered for the member and one added person. An attendant may be covered in addition to a driver if it is medically necessary. Members under the age of 18 cannot be transported alone. They must travel with a parent, guardian, or adult authorized by the parent or guardian. NEMT costs are covered for parents of children younger than 18 years of age or for children traveling with an adult with a disability.

Out-of-state NEMT is only covered if ND Medicaid has already approved of an out-of-state medical service. You can learn more about getting services outside of North Dakota in the Out-of-State Services chapter of this handbook.

BECOMING A NEMT PROVIDER

NEMT providers can be anyone who helps you get to your ND Medicaid covered services. This may be a parent, spouse, foster care provider, guardian, relative, friend, or others who help you travel. Encourage your family or others to enroll as a NEMT provider if you rely on them to get to your medical appointments. This will allow them to get paid. 

NEMT providers can be paid for approved travel costs by submitting their claims to ND Medicaid. NEMT providers must submit claims by using our online portal or mailing their paper documents. Payments are based on a set fee schedule for NEMT providers using a private vehicle. You can view the most current fee schedule on our website by searching "NEMT fee schedule". 

NEMT providers must be enrolled with ND Medicaid. To enroll as a NEMT provider, contact Noridian Healthcare Solutions and/or start your enrollment process by filling out the NEMT Individual Application and following the instructions.

NEMT payments may also include lodging and meal costs if an overnight stay is needed. The Customer Support Center can tell you if these costs may be covered. Payments for meals and/or lodging are based on a set fee schedule. Meals and lodging must be provided by enrolled NEMT providers. 

To get more help with NEMT, contact our Customer Support Center or visit our ND Medicaid Transportation webpage (webpage coming soon). 

Contact Information Mentioned in this Chapter:

  • Customer Support Center, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CT
    • Toll-Free: (866) 614-6005
    • Local: (701) 328-1000
    • TTY: 711
    • Free translation available upon request
    • Email: applyforhelp@nd.gov
    • Mail: Customer Support Center 
      PO Box 5562 
      Bismarck, ND 58506
    • Fax: (701) 382-1006
    • In person: Visit a human service zone office. Find one near you.
       
  • Noridian Healthcare Solutions
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