The Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) makes non-emergency transportation to and from health care services and treatments accessible for people on Medicaid. Keep on reading to find out more about Medical Assistance transportation in Pennsylvania.
What is the Medical Assistance Transportation Program?
The Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) provides free transportation to non-emergency medical appointments for people who have a valid Medicaid/Medical Assistance card. The program is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and is available throughout the state.
Local MATP programs are managed by the counties that can choose to either administer the program directly, contract with local providers and agencies, or use a combination of the two. Philadelphia is currently the only county that uses a brokerage model for providing Medicaid transportation services.
Where Can One Go With MATP?
You can use MATP to get to and from any health care service or treatment that are covered by Medical Assistance, including:
- A primary care doctor
- A specialist
- A dentist
- A hospital
- A medical testing facility
- A mental health provider
- A durable medical equipment provider
- A pharmacy to fill prescriptions
- A drug or alcohol treatment facility.
In addition, parents and legal guardians can use MATP for child visitation to an inpatient program.
How far can you go with MATP?
Depending on your circumstances and the providers you use, certain limits may apply to how far you can go with MATP to obtain health care services. In most cases, you can choose any qualified Medicaid-enrolled provider, however, there are some exceptions:
- To obtain transportation to a pharmacy, you are required to choose one of the two pharmacies that are closest to either your home or to your prescribing physician’s office.
- To obtain transportation to methadone treatment, you must attend the closest in-network methadone treatment program to your home.
In what cases you can’t use MATP?
It is not possible to use MATP for the following purposes:
- Emergency or ambulance transportation
- Transportation for non-medical trips, such as shopping and social activities. However, recipients of long-term services and support may qualify for non-medical transportation for trips to the grocery store, religious institutions, and other places.
- To obtain medical care or health services that are not covered by Medical Assistance.
Do I Need to Apply for MATP?
You have to apply through your local MATP office to receive transportation assistance.
There are several ways to apply for MATP:
- Contact your local MATP office by phone. MATP county program phone numbers are listed below.
- Visit your MATP office in person. You can search for your county’s contact information through the MATP website.
- Complete the MATP registration form and return it to your local office.
- You can also ask your service coordinator or case manager for more information on how to apply for MATP in your county.
Application process
To apply for MATP, you have to complete and sign a MATP registration form. It’s essential that MATP receives the form no later than 30 days after your eligibility verification. Once you complete the registration, you will receive all the details on how to use MATP services.
You will be asked to provide information about the appointments you need transportation to and from, your physical abilities, and whether you have a car. Your local MATP office will then determine what is the best mode of transportation based on your needs.
Submitting reimbursement requests
Each county has its own policies for verifying medical appointments and determining timelines for submitting reimbursement requests. Typically, you will be expected to submit a form to your local MATP office once a month, where you document all trips for which you’re requesting reimbursement. The county will then verify the information and send you a reimbursement check. Note that you can be reimbursed only for trips starting after the date you were determined eligible by MATP.
Questions and complaints
If you have any questions or want to submit a complaint about the service from a MATP provider, driver, or your trip in general, call MATP at 412-350-4476 or 1-888-547-MATP (6287).
How Does MATP Help With Transportation?
MATP provides several transportation assistance options depending on your needs, including free transportation, reimbursements, and door-to-door services.
Free transportation
MATP provides free public transportation tickets and passes for Medical Assistance recipients who live on or near the bus lines.
Ticket or mileage reimbursement
MATP reimburses the use of public transportation including tickets and passes. In addition, you can obtain reimbursement for the gas mileage of a private car, whether it’s you who is driving or someone else is giving you a ride, as well as any parking costs and tolls during your trip.
Door-to-door services
If you have complex medical needs or are not capable of using public transportation, you may be eligible for free door-to-door transportation in a paratransit vehicle such as lift-equipped vans and taxis for people with disabilities. These vehicles usually transport several people to different pick-up and drop-off locations. Note that your doctor must complete a physician certification to confirm that you have special transportation needs.
MATP is required by law to provide the least costly and the most appropriate transportation service available that fits your individual needs.
MATP escort policy
You have the right to be accompanied by an escort on an MATP trip if you can’t travel independently due to your age, type of disability, language barriers, or when the escort is necessary to secure medical examinations and treatment. Children under the age of 18 who are eligible for MATP can be accompanied by a parent or guardian at no cost.
You should keep in mind, however, that you will have to provide your own escort. MATP doesn’t offer medical escort services and doesn’t pay for the escort’s time, only for their transportation.
Contact MATP by County
County
Phone number
Toll Free number
Adams
717-846-RIDE (7433)
800-632-9063
Allegheny
412-350-4476
888-547-6287
Armstrong
724-548-3408
800-468-7771
Beaver
724-375-2895
800-262-0343
Bedford
814-623-9129
800-323-9997
Berks
610-921-2361
800-383-2278
Blair
814-695-3500
800-458-5552
Bradford
570-888-7330
800-242-3484
Bucks
215-794-5554
888-795-0740
Butler
724-431-3663
866-638-0598
Cambria
814-535-4630
888-647-4814
Cameron
866-282-4968
866-282-4968
Carbon
570-669-6380
Same as Local
Centre
814-355-6807
Same as Local
Chester
484-696-3854
877-873-8415
Clarion
814-226-7012
800-672-7116
Clearfield
814-765-1551
800-822-2610
Clinton
570-323-7575
800-206-3006
Columbia
717-846-RIDE (7433)
800-632-9063
Crawford
814-333-7090
800-210-6226
Cumberland
717-846-RIDE (7433)
800-632-9063
Dauphin
717-232-7009
800-309-8905
Delaware
610-490-3960
Same as Local
Elk
866-282-4968
Same as Local
Erie
814-456-2299
Same as Local
Fayette
724-628-7433
800-321-7433
Forest
814-927-8266
800-222-1706
Franklin
717-846-RIDE (7433)
800-632-9063
Fulton
717-485-6767
888-329-2376
Greene
724-627-6778
877-360-7433
Huntingdon
814-641-6408
800-817-3383
Indiana
724-465-2140
800-524-2766
Jefferson
814-938-3302
877-411-0585
Juniata
717-242-2277
800-348-2277
Lackawanna
570-963-6482
Same as Local
Lancaster
717-291-1243
800-892-1122
Lawrence
724-658-7258
888-252-5104
Lebanon
717-273-9328
Same as Local
Lehigh
610-253-8333
888-253-8333
Luzerne
570-288-8420
800-679-4135
Lycoming
570-323-7575
800-222-2468
McKean
866-282-4968
866-282-4968
Mercer
724-662-6222
800-570-6222
Mifflin
717-242-2277
800-348-2277
Monroe
570-839-6282 ext 434
888-955-6282
Montgomery
215-542-7433
Same as Local
Montour
717-846-RIDE (7433)
800-632-9063
Northampton
610-253-8333
888-253-8333
Northumberland
717-846-RIDE (7433)
800-632-9063
Perry
717-846-RIDE (7433)
800-632-9063
Philadelphia
877-835-7412
Same as local
Pike
570-296-3408
866-681-4947
Potter
814-544-7315
800-800-2560
Schuylkill
570-628-1425
888-656-0700
Snyder
717-846-RIDE (7433)
800-632-9063
Somerset
814-701-3691
800-452-0241
Sullivan
570-888-7330
800-242-3484
Susquehanna
570-278-6140
866-278-9332
Tioga
570-888-7330
800-242-3484
Union
717-846-RIDE (7433)
800-632-9063
Venango
814-432-9767
Same as Local
Warren
814-723-1874
877-723-9456
Washington
724-223-8747
800-331-5058
Wayne
570-253-4280
800-662-0780
Westmoreland
724-832-2706
800-242-2706
Wyoming
570-278-6140
866-278-9332
York
717-846-RIDE (7433)
800-632-9063