Medicaid Transportation & C.A.R.E.


Did you know that Medicaid will reimburse travel to Medicaid covered medical and clinic appointments? 

Non-Emergency Transportation (NET) is a program that provides medically necessary non-ambulance transportation services to Medicaid recipients.

Medicaid pays for rides to a doctor or clinic for medical care or treatment covered by Medicaid. NET services may be provided by one or more of the modes listed below when the recipient’s medical care is medically necessary, and the recipient has no other transportation resources. The least costly mode of transportation appropriate to the needs of the recipient must be used. The transportation modes include:  

  • Automobile  

  • Minibus Services

  • Wheelchair Van Services

  • Commercial or City Bus

  • Airplane

  • Train

  • Ambulance

NET services require prior authorization. All payments for NET services must have prior authorization by the Alabama Medicaid Agency, except urgent care. Urgent care is defined as medical care that is required after normal business hours. Requests for reimbursement for NET as a result or urgent care must be made the first business day after the transportation need has occurred. 

Reimbursement for Non-Ambulance NET services are furnished either to:

  • The recipient through an Electronic Benefit Transfer System (EBT) process wherein the recipient uses the reimbursement to purchase transportation; or  

  • Under certain circumstances, to another individual or entity, determined by Medicaid to be more appropriate (this may include a parent or legal guardian, or issuing reimbursement directly to the NET transporter.) 

NET services may be used for the following medical services: EPSDT, inpatient hospital care, outpatient hospital care, physician services, diagnostic services (lab, X-ray), clinic services (family planning, rural health, community mental health), dental services for recipients under 21 years of age, eye care, orthotic/prosthetic services.