Medicaid medical rides — Medical Answering Services (MAS)

Medical Answering Services (MAS) arranges non-emergency medical transportation for the New York State Department of Health. Eligible Medicaid members travel to covered care at no cost. Depending on medical need and authorization, modes include public transit, taxi or livery, ambulette, non-emergency ambulance and personal-vehicle mileage reimbursement. Medically necessary, appropriate long-distance specialty-care travel can include commercial bus, rail or air, with provider documentation and prior approval. Trips to pharmacies, grocery stores, gyms or school are not provided. For a medical emergency call 911, not MAS.

Medicaid members eligible for the transportation benefit who need travel to Medicaid-covered care. All trips require prior approval; the medically appropriate, cost-effective mode is selected.

Call the Downstate number 844-666-6270 or create an account at https://www.medanswering.com/. Contact MAS at least 72 hours ahead; physician sick visits and urgent-care requests may be arranged with less notice. Request public-transit passes at least five days ahead. Regular enrollee service hours are Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–6 p.m.; representatives are available 24/7 for discharges and urgent transportation requests.