Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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Rhode Island program

Rides to treatment (Medicaid transportation)

Free rides to covered appointments for a child on Rhode Island Medicaid, arranged through MTM Health.

What it is

Free rides to covered appointments for a child on Rhode Island Medicaid, arranged through MTM Health.

Repeated clinic trips can be hard to manage alongside everything else. Medicaid transportation serves the whole state through one ride service. MTM and the clinic can check whether a standing order would cover your appointment schedule.

Eligibility rules
  • Your child must be enrolled in Rhode Island Medicaid.
  • Routine trips require at least two business days’ notice. Urgent trips can sometimes be arranged the same day.
  • Beyond listed border communities, out-of-state treatment needs authorization and a Rhode Island Medicaid-enrolled provider.
What you get
  • No-cost rides to and from covered medical appointments.
  • A repeated-trip arrangement when MTM approves a standing order.
  • MTM can check trips with your child or separate hospital visits. Meals, lodging and other travel costs need its approval.
What this covers
  • MTM Health serves every Rhode Island city and town.
  • The hospital arranges discharge transportation.
If you decide to apply
  1. Call MTM Health to register and arrange rides, with the clinic schedule and Medicaid details ready.
  2. Ask the clinic to help with a standing order for repeated appointments.
  3. Tell the ride service about any out-of-state destination and ask the hospital about discharge transportation.

The state's transport broker: 1-855-330-9131 · Official page ↗

After you ask
  • The ride service confirms the booking or standing order. Appointment changes can affect the trip arrangement.
Good to know

For trips beyond the listed border communities, treatment approval comes before the ride can be arranged.

Other details
  • Travel approval does not by itself establish that out-of-state treatment is covered. The medical and transport requests are separate.
Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could Medicaid rides help with our clinic schedule, and would a standing order work for us? Could you help us arrange it and check any out-of-state trips?”

Why I’m asking: I want getting to treatment to be one less thing we have to solve.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Register, then book two business days ahead or ask for a standing order.

Your social worker

The clinic can supply the appointment schedule the standing order needs.

The care team

Records and letters when the application asks for them.

Who decides
The state's transport broker, with your child's Medicaid plan where the trip is out of state.
Ask your social worker
“Can you help us register for rides and ask for a standing order for the clinic schedule?”

How to apply

First step: Call 1-855-330-9131 and register before the next clinic day.

  1. Call 1-855-330-9131 and register before the next clinic day.
  2. Ask for a standing order for the whole chemotherapy schedule rather than booking trip by trip.
  3. If the treatment is out of state, say so: the ride cannot be booked until the care itself is authorised.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Call the ride line and register, then book each trip or set a standing order.

What to gather

The diagnosis letter, the child’s insurance card, and the last two pay stubs cover most applications. The official page lists the rest.

Watch out

  • Two business days ahead for a routine trip.
  • Ask for a standing order once, rather than ringing before every clinic day.
  • Out-of-state trips need the treatment authorised first.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 10, 2026.

What it is worth

Free rides to appointments, statewide, booked two business days ahead, with standing orders for repeated visits.

Covers: Rides to and from medical appointments · Standing orders for a repeated schedule · A parent's trip to spend the day with a hospitalised child

What it costs the family: No cost to a family on Medicaid.

The eligibility facts, as published

Coverage
the child is on Rhode Island Medicaid
Booking
at least two business days before a routine trip; urgent trips can sometimes be same day
Out of state
beyond the listed border communities the treatment needs authorisation and a Rhode Island Medicaid enrolled provider

The trap: Book at least two business days ahead for a routine trip. Urgent trips can sometimes be arranged the same day, and a standing order can cover a run of repeated appointments, which is what a chemotherapy schedule needs.

Where I read this

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