Medicaid Transportation Update
(May 14, 2024) LeadingAge NY has communicated its concerns regarding Medical Answering Service (MAS) transportation reimbursement policies regarding Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) and other Medicaid beneficiaries in “pending Medicaid recertification” status. We shared our concern with the State that individuals who arrange and pay for, not just provide, their own transportation during this pending status should be reimbursed once they are determined to be recertified under Medicaid. Currently, the State is only reimbursing beneficiaries in this status for transportation to life-saving appointments or if the beneficiary uses their own vehicle to get to a medical appointment. This leaves those without such supports who must hire a vehicle for transportation to a medical appointment to pay out of pocket during this "recertification pending" time period.
The Department communicated on May 14th that MAS is still building out the MLTC plan coordinator role in their portal system – they are getting close to having it finalized, and then they will set up trainings. MAS and the State are not making it MLTC-specific because they think that all of the plans will benefit from having privileges in the MAS system. Once that is live, they will look for MAS to either post recordings or develop some other tutorials that will be posted on their website. They are going to categorize the feedback received from members regarding their online system to help develop the tutorials.
In other transportation news, MAS and the State came to an agreement on a Medicaid rate increase with Long Island ambulette transportation providers. The vendors had been in discussion with the State and MAS for the last few weeks and settled on a higher rate. Our contacts in the ambulette vendor community indicate that they are also seeking increases in NYC rates.
Please let us know if you are experiencing any transportation challenges we should convey to the Department.
Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871