MAS Medicaid Transportation in New York

What is MAS?

MAS stands for Medical Answering Services. It is the state-contracted broker that manages Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) across most of New York State, including all of Long Island. MAS does not own vehicles or employ drivers — it is a scheduling and verification layer that sits between Medicaid members and the transportation providers (like DachiPlus) that actually pick up and deliver patients.

When a Medicaid member needs a ride to a medical appointment, they call MAS. MAS verifies their eligibility, confirms the appointment, and assigns the trip to a credentialed provider in their area. The provider is paid by Medicaid; the member pays nothing.

MAS phone numbers

• General booking line: 1-844-666-6270
• Long Island (Suffolk & Nassau) booking: 1-844-666-6270
• Online booking portal: medanswering.com

Call hours are generally Monday–Friday, 7 AM–6 PM. Weekend urgent line is available.

Who qualifies for free Medicaid rides?

You qualify for free MAS-coordinated transportation if all three of these are true:

• You are an active New York State Medicaid member (Medicaid, Medicaid Managed Care, HARP, or certain dual-eligible plans).
• You are traveling to a Medicaid-covered medical service (most appointments qualify — see below).
• You have no other free transportation option (public transit, family, or facility-arranged transport).

You do not need to prove financial hardship beyond Medicaid eligibility itself. The Medicaid card is the ticket.

How to book a Medicaid ride: step by step

1. Wait until your appointment is confirmed. MAS will not book speculative rides.
2. Call MAS at least 72 hours before your appointment. Same-day requests are usually rejected unless urgent.
3. Have ready: your Medicaid CIN (client identification number), the appointment date and exact time, the medical provider's name and address, and your pickup address.
4. Tell MAS your mobility needs. Ambulatory, wheelchair, stretcher, oxygen — be specific. This determines which vehicle is sent.
5. Request DachiPlus by name. Say: "I would like DachiPlus assigned as my transportation provider." (More on this below.)
6. Get your confirmation number. Write it down. You'll need it if anything changes.

How to request DachiPlus specifically

New York Medicaid members have the right to request a specific transportation provider through MAS. If DachiPlus has availability for your trip type and time window, MAS will assign the trip to us.

If MAS tells you DachiPlus isn't available for your specific date and time, you can ask whether a different time on the same day would work, or you can simply book through us privately by calling (516) 754-7777.

What trips does Medicaid cover?

Medicaid covers transportation to most medically necessary appointments. This includes:

• Doctor and specialist appointments
• Dialysis (typically standing orders, three times per week)
• Chemotherapy and radiation
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Mental health and substance use treatment
• Methadone clinics and opioid treatment programs
• Diagnostic imaging (MRI, CT, ultrasound)
• Lab work and bloodwork
• Dental appointments covered under Medicaid
• Pharmacy visits when transportation to the pharmacy is medically necessary
• Wound care, infusion therapy, and outpatient procedures
• Hospital discharges back home

Medicaid generally does not cover routine social transportation, grocery shopping, or visits that are not tied to a specific medical service.

The 72-hour rule (and exceptions)

The standard New York Medicaid rule is that transportation requests must be made at least three business days (72 hours) in advance. MAS uses this lead time to verify eligibility and assign a provider.

Exceptions where MAS will book on shorter notice:

• Urgent care referred by a doctor
• Hospital discharges — these are arranged same-day with the hospital case manager's help
• Same-day appointments for urgent symptoms documented by the medical provider

If you have a same-day or short-notice need, call MAS and explain the situation. They have an urgent line.

Standing orders for dialysis, chemo, and recurring care

If you have recurring medical appointments — most commonly dialysis three times per week, daily radiation cycles, or weekly chemotherapy — you do not need to call MAS before every trip. Instead, you set up a standing order.

To set up a standing order:

1. Call MAS and ask for a standing order request.
2. Provide the days of the week, treatment times, and the duration of the standing order (typically 3 or 6 months).
3. Request DachiPlus as the assigned provider — driver continuity matters most on recurring trips.
4. Confirm the standing order is active.

For dialysis specifically, your dialysis center can also help set up the standing order on your behalf.

What to do if there's a problem

If the driver is late or no-shows

Call DachiPlus directly at (516) 754-7777. We can check on the vehicle and dispatch another if needed. If we cannot reach you for a confirmed trip, MAS records a no-show — repeated no-shows can affect future trip approvals.

If you need to cancel

Call MAS or your assigned provider as soon as possible. Same-day cancellations should still be reported even if the trip has already started.

If you have a complaint

MAS has a member complaint line. You can also file a complaint with the New York State Department of Health if you believe your transportation rights have been violated. Members have the right to a specific provider, a vehicle appropriate to their mobility needs, and on-time service.