210-RICR-20-00-2
A. These rules and regulations related to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ (EOHHS) Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Program are promulgated pursuant to the authority conferred under:
B. Federal 42 C.F.R. § 431.53 requires the Medicaid agency:
A. Wherever used in these rules and regulations, the following terms shall be construed as follows:
B. Transportation can be provided by any of the following modes, as appropriate to the needs of the individual. Public transit (bus) is the preferred mode of NEMT when both the beneficiary and the provider are within one-half (½) mile of an established bus stop and the beneficiary is able to walk or transport her/himself to the bus stop.
Covered Services - The Medicaid Program covers emergency and NEMT. Ground transportation is covered and provided for when the individual is a Medicaid beneficiary and is receiving a Medicaid-covered service.
C. For Medicaid fee-for-service beneficiaries, emergency transportation is provided by the Medicaid fee-for-service program. Billing for this service is through the Medicaid fee-for-service program.
B. To be eligible for NEMT services, Medicaid beneficiaries must be unable to find alternative transportation and require transportation services for medical/health visits that are part of a total patient plan of care supervised and ordered by a health care professional.
1. Escorts
2. More than one beneficiary may be transported by the same vehicle on the same trip, provided:
c. Passengers must not have their trip lengthened by more than 30 minutes due to increasing the number of passengers in the same vehicle.
C. All out-of-state NEMT, with the exception of NEMT to border communities, requires prior authorization from the State’s transportation management authority.
A. NEMT: An individual residing in a nursing facility whose condition precludes transportation by the facility vehicle to and from a physician’s office, medical laboratory, hospitals, etc., may be transported for non-emergency medical services when:
All NEMT requests must be scheduled through the State’s transportation management authority. Some requests may require a physician or clinician’s attestation and/or documentation. Information on how to contact the State’s transportation management authority is available at: www.eohhs.ri.gov.
F. Mileage Reimbursement
A. Standing Orders
B. Drivers must treat beneficiaries with courtesy and respect.
C. Must have proof of insurance.
A. Must have a license issued through the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (DPUC) validating proof of authority to engage granted by the DPUC. R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 39-14 (Taxicabs and Limited Public Motor Vehicles) and R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 39-14.1 (Public Motor Vehicles).
C. All licenses must be renewed annually through the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (DPUC).
Drivers and vehicles must be in compliance with ride-share company standards.
A. Vehicles used to provide transportation to a beneficiary must be in good condition, safe for transport, and have current and valid:
B. Emergency Transportation: Providers will bill the health plans for emergency transportation provided to Medicaid managed care beneficiaries. Providers will bill the Medicaid fee-for-service program for emergency transportation provided to Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in the State’s fee-for-service delivery system.
A. Emergency Transportation
B. Non-Emergency Transportation
1. Certain forms of non-emergency transportation may be covered by Medicare. This may include basic life support and advanced life support (both of which are provided by ambulance) as well as transportation provided to/from hospitals and dialysis centers. The transportation management authority may be responsible for payment of Medicaid-covered NEMT services that were denied by Medicare, subject to prior approval and verification by the broker.
F. Eligible participants must be legal residents of the State of Rhode Island. As a condition of eligibility for transportation services, participants must provide the information noted below to the transportation management authority. This may include, but is not limited to:
The following transportation services may be provided to Rhode Island elders by the State’s transportation management authority based on the following prioritization. Service provision is contingent upon available state funding.
Special medical transportation includes transportation for the purpose of kidney dialysis or cancer treatments. Names of clients to be transported are to be provided to the State’s transportation management authority by the medical treatment facility, family, friends, or the client themselves. The State reserves the right to limit special medical transportation based on funding constraints or other programmatic requirements.
This category includes transport to and from adult day care centers that are licensed by the Department of Health (DOH). Residences of clients shall be verified by the adult day care center and provided to the State’s transportation management authority. The State reserves the right to limit transportation to adult day care centers based on funding constraints or other programmatic requirements.
This category includes transportation for any medical/health services that are part of a total patient plan of care supervised by a health care professional. Trips eligible under this service category include visits to physicians' offices and dental offices as well as all trips for tests and/or treatments ordered by a health care professional as part of a treatment plan. The State reserves the right to limit general medical transportation based on funding constraints or other programmatic requirements.
B. Transportation shall be at the discretion of the State and available during the same days and hours as general medical trips. Trip requests must be forwarded to the State’s transportation management authority at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance. The State reserves the right to limit transportation to INSIGHT based on funding constraints or other programmatic requirements.
Subject to state and federal law, EOHHS reserves the right to limit, restrict, or terminate the availability of transportation due to funding constraints, programmatic requirements, service availability, weather, etc. (This provision applies to clients of the ETP only).
C. Wheelchair van: Wheelchair dependent beneficiaries must provide their own wheelchair. Beneficiaries must request this service at the time of reservation to the State’s transportation management authority. Transportation providers are not permitted to enter the client’s residence or the provider’s office. Beneficiaries who will require additional assistance in leaving their destination or upon arrival at their medical appointment may bring an escort with them. Beneficiaries must inform the transportation management authority when they reserve transportation that an escort will accompany them.
B. Transportation to adult day care facilities and meal sites shall be to the facility closest to the client's home unless transportation to another center is more appropriate. This is also subject to the availability of transportation services to that center. The facility closest to the client’s home may be in a bordering town listed in § 2.20 of this Part.
Service days shall typically include Monday-Friday. Trips may also be scheduled on weekends and holidays when medically necessary. Trips for senior nutrition transportation (Priority 5) must occur between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
B. If a medical appointment is cancelled the same day, or there are other unforeseen circumstances, the beneficiary should contact the State’s transportation management authority as soon as possible.
A. Standing Orders
A. Individuals may file a complaint as follows:
A. Border Communities include cities and town that border Rhode Island and are considered for the purpose of the Rhode Island Medical Assistance Program, in-state providers. Out-of-state service restrictions and prior authorization requirements are not imposed on providers in the following communities:
| Connecticut | Massachusetts |
| Danielson | Attleboro |
| Groton | Bellingham |
| Moosup | Blackstone |
| Mystic | Dartmouth |
| New London | Fall River |
| North Stonington | Foxboro |
| Pawcatuck | Milford |
| Putnam | New Bedford |
| Stonington | North Attleboro |
| Thompson | North Dartmouth |
| Waterford | Rehoboth |
| Seekonk | |
| Somerset | |
| South Attleboro | |
| Swansea | |
| Taunton | |
| Uxbridge | |
| Webster | |
| Westport | |
| Whitinsville |