Transportation Services
Medi-Cal offers transportation to and from appointments for services covered by Medi-Cal. This includes transportation to medical, dental, mental health, or substance use disorder appointments, and to pick up prescriptions and medical supplies.
There are two types of transportation for appointments:
- Nonmedical transportation (NMT) is transportation by private or public vehicle for people who do not have another way to get to their appointment.
- Nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT) is transportation by ambulance, wheelchair van, or litter van for those who cannot use public or private transportation.
Nonmedical Transportation (NMT)
Nonmedical Transportation (NMT) is available to people with full-scope Medi-Cal or who are pregnant, including to the end of the month in which the 365th day postpartum falls.
If you receive Medi-Cal through a managed care plan (e.g. Kaiser Permanente, Anthem Blue Cross, CenCal Health, or others), contact your plan’s member service department to request NMT. Members can contact providers directly to schedule transportation if they have their contact information.
If you are a Medi-Cal fee-for-service (FFS) member or representative, click the button above this section and enter your name and email address. DHCS staff will reply with a secure email including Transportation Request Form and any other necessary information.
NOTE: Members or their representatives can contact NMT providers directly to schedule transportation if they have their contact information.
Nonemergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
If you receive Medi-Cal through a managed care plan (e.g. Kaiser Permanente, Anthem Blue Cross, CenCal Health, or others), please contact your plan’s member service department to request nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT). You will need a prescription from a licensed provider.
If you are a Medi-Cal fee-for-service (FFS) member or representative, please inform your medical provider of your need. Then click the button above this section and enter your name and email address. DHCS staff will reply with a secure email including Transportation Request Form and any other necessary information. After receiving your Transportation Request Form, DHCS staff will contact your medical provider to confirm that they're willing to prescribe the use of NEMT.
Medi-Cal Transportation Providers
In both FFS and managed care plans, licensed medical transportation companies are able to provide NMT and NEMT. In addition, Medi-Cal managed care plans also contract with other transportation providers for these services.
How to become a NMT and NEMT transportation provider
Treatment Authorization Requests (TAR)
The
DHCS Treatment Authorization Request (TAR) site provides training. TAR forms, instructions for preparing and submitting, and information on the Appeals process.
If you need further assistance in submitting TARs - call the
Telephone Service Center at (800) 541-5555.
Billing and Eligibility
If you're a NMT or NEMT transport provider, and you have a billing or eligibility question, call the
Telephone Service Center at (800) 541-5555.
Resources
The following are resources and reference materials for Members and providers regarding Medi-Cal transportation services.
Contact Us
- For NMT Managed Care billing and eligibility questions:
- For NMT Fee-For-Service billing questions:
- For NMT FFS eligibility and benefits questions:
