How to Get Medicaid Transportation in Texas: Complete Guide

If you have Texas Medicaid, you may be eligible for free transportation to medical appointments through the Medical Transportation Program (MTP). This benefit helps Texans who have no other way to get to covered healthcare services—but many don't know it exists or how to use it.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Medicaid transportation in Texas: how to request rides, which phone numbers to call, what's covered, and how to get mileage reimbursement.

What Is the Medical Transportation Program (MTP)?

The Medical Transportation Program (MTP), administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), arranges nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT) and travel-related services for eligible clients who have no other means of transportation to their covered health care services.

According to Texas HHS, the program serves three populations:

Medicaid recipients
Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Services Program participants
Transportation for Indigent Cancer Patients (TICP) program participants

What Texas Medicaid Transportation Covers

MTP provides transportation to any place that provides covered health care services, including:

Doctor and specialist appointments
Dentist appointments
Hospital visits
Pharmacy/drugstore (to pick up prescriptions)
Mental health and behavioral health appointments
Dialysis treatments
Any Medicaid-covered health care service

Travel-Related Expenses

For appointments requiring significant travel, Texas Medicaid may also cover:

Public transportation (city bus, public transit)
Taxi or van service
Commercial transit (bus or plane to another city)
Gas money/mileage reimbursement
Meals and lodging for children and youth age 20 and younger staying overnight for covered services
Out-of-state travel to neighboring states (Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico)

Important: Ambulance transportation (emergency or non-emergency) is NOT covered under MTP.

How to Request Texas Medicaid Transportation

The process depends on whether you're enrolled in a Medicaid managed care health plan or traditional Medicaid (fee-for-service).

If You Have a Texas Medicaid Health Plan

Most Texas Medicaid recipients are enrolled in managed care plans (STAR, STAR+PLUS, STAR Kids, CHIP). If you have a health plan, call your plan's transportation line to schedule rides.

Here are the transportation phone numbers for Texas Medicaid health plans:

Health Plan	Transportation Provider	Phone Number
Aetna	Access2Care	1-866-411-8920
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas	ModivCare	1-866-824-1565
Community First Health Plan	SafeRide	1-855-932-2335
Community Health Choice	Access2Care	1-844-572-8194
Cook Children's Health Plan	Access2Care	1-844-572-8195
Dell Children's Health Plan	Access2Care	1-844-867-2742
Driscoll Health Plan	SafeRide	1-833-694-5881
El Paso Health	Access2Care	1-833-931-3844
FirstCare Health Plan	Access2Care	1-833-779-3105
Molina Healthcare of Texas	Access2Care	1-866-462-4857
Parkland Community Health Plan	Access2Care	1-833-931-3844
Scott & White Health Plan	Access2Care	1-877-447-3101
Superior HealthPlan	SafeRide	1-855-932-2318
Texas Children's Health Plan	MTM	1-888-401-0170

Source: Texas HHS Health Plan Transportation Contact Information

Don't see your plan? Call the Member Services number on the back of your Medicaid card and ask for transportation services.

If You Don't Have a Health Plan (Fee-for-Service)

If you're not enrolled in a managed care plan, call the statewide MTP toll-free number:

1-877-633-8747 (1-877-MED-TRIP)

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time

Step-by-Step: Booking Your Ride

Step 1: Know Your Deadlines

Appointment Type	When to Book
In-county appointments	At least 2 workdays before
Out-of-county appointments	At least 5 workdays before
Recurring treatments (dialysis)	Set up a standing order with one call
Same-day appointments	Call immediately (see exceptions below)

Same-day rides may be approved for:

Emergency same-day medical visits ordered by your doctor or dentist
Hospital discharge (release from a health care facility)
Pharmacy visits to pick up prescriptions

Step 2: Have This Information Ready

When you call to schedule:

Your Medicaid ID number
Your Social Security number
Provider/facility name and phone number
Appointment address
Appointment date and time
Pickup location
Reason for the visit
Any special needs (wheelchair, walker, lift required)

Step 3: Confirm Before Your Appointment

The day before your appointment:

Confirm your pickup time with your transportation provider
Verify the pickup location
Get a contact number for the day of transport

Step 4: Be Ready for Pickup

On the day of your appointment:

Be ready 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time
Wait in a visible, accessible location
Have your Medicaid card with you
Bring the transportation company's phone number

For Recurring Appointments (Dialysis, etc.)

If you have regular medical appointments like dialysis, you can arrange transportation for an entire month with a single call. According to Texas HHS, this makes scheduling easier for ongoing treatments.

How to set up recurring transportation:

Call your health plan's transportation line or 1-877-MED-TRIP
Explain that you have recurring appointments (include frequency and expected duration)
Provide all appointment details for the month
Ask for confirmation of your standing order

Mileage Reimbursement: The ITP Program

If you have a car but need help with gas money, Texas Medicaid offers mileage reimbursement through the Individual Transportation Participant (ITP) program.

What Is ITP?

The ITP program allows you—or a family member, friend, or neighbor—to be reimbursed for driving you to medical appointments. Reimbursement is at the current IRS mileage rate.

How to Become an ITP

Request an application: Call 1-877-MED-TRIP and tell them you have a car but need help with gas money. They'll mail you an ITP application packet.
Complete the required documents: The packet includes an enrollment checklist. You must provide:
- Valid driver's license
- Vehicle insurance
- Current vehicle inspection
- Vehicle registration
- Social Security card (name must match your driver's license)
Wait for approval: Your application must be processed and approved by the state of Texas before you can take any trips. Once approved, you'll receive a letter with your Atypical Provider Identifier (API) and Taxonomy Code.
Schedule trips and submit claims: After approval, call MTP to request rides. They'll mail you a preprinted ITP Service Record (Form H3017) to submit for reimbursement.

Important: All trips must be authorized by MTP before you travel. Submit completed trip logs within 95 calendar days of the appointment date.

Requirements for Children

Texas Medicaid transportation has specific rules for minors:

Children 14 and younger: Must travel with a parent or guardian
Children ages 15-17: May travel alone, but a parent must provide written permission before the trip is scheduled

Regional Transportation Organizations

Texas uses Managed Transportation Organizations (MTOs) and Full Risk Brokers to coordinate transportation in different regions:

Dallas-Fort Worth area: Managed by a Full Risk Broker
Houston/Beaumont area: Managed by a Full Risk Broker
West Texas (Region 2): Managed by Project Amistad, serving 23 counties including El Paso and the Midland-Odessa region

For a complete map of service areas, see the HHSC Managed Care Service Areas Map.

What If Your Transportation Request Is Denied?

If your transportation request is denied, you have the right to appeal.

Step 1: File a Complaint or Grievance with Your Health Plan

According to Texas HHS, you should first contact your health plan to resolve the issue. Often, they can help you more quickly.

Step 2: Contact the HHSC Ombudsman

If your health plan doesn't resolve the issue, contact the HHS Ombudsman:

Online: Submit a complaint through the Texas HHS website
Phone: 1-866-566-8989 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time)
Mail: Texas Health and Human Services Commission Ombudsman, Managed Care Assistance Team, P.O. Box 13247, Austin, Texas 78711-3247

The Ombudsman team will respond within one business day and follow up every five business days until the complaint is resolved.

Step 3: Request a State Fair Hearing

If you disagree with your health plan's appeal decision, you can request a State Fair Hearing from HHSC within 120 calendar days of the appeal decision letter.

Keeping services during appeal: If you request a Fair Hearing within 10 days of the appeal decision letter, you may be able to continue receiving transportation services while the appeal is pending.

Common Questions About Texas Medicaid Transportation

Can a family member drive me and get reimbursed?

Yes. Through the ITP program, a family member, friend, or neighbor can register to drive you and receive mileage reimbursement at the IRS rate. They must complete an ITP application and be approved before taking any trips.

Does Texas Medicaid cover transportation to the pharmacy?

Yes. Rides to the drugstore to pick up prescriptions are covered. Same-day approval may be available for pharmacy visits.

Can I get transportation to out-of-state appointments?

Yes, for neighboring states. Texas Medicaid may cover transportation to medical appointments in Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico when necessary.

What if my ride doesn't show up?

Call your health plan's transportation line or 1-877-MED-TRIP immediately
Document the incident (date, time, confirmation number)
If problems persist, file a complaint with your health plan and/or the HHSC Ombudsman

Is transportation available for dental appointments?

Yes. Transportation to dentist appointments is covered under MTP.

Can I get transportation to mental health appointments?

Yes. Transportation to mental health and behavioral health appointments is covered.

Tips for Getting the Best Service

Book early — Call at least 2 workdays ahead (5 days for out-of-county)
Keep records — Save confirmation numbers, driver information, and pickup times
Be specific about your needs — Mention wheelchairs, walkers, or other accessibility requirements upfront
Set up standing orders for recurring appointments — One call covers a month of dialysis trips
Know your deadlines — Same-day requests are only approved for specific situations
Report problems immediately — Document issues and contact your health plan or the Ombudsman

Need Help Finding Transportation in Texas?

Whether you have Medicaid or need private medical transportation, MedTransport Finder can help you locate NEMT providers throughout Texas. Our directory includes providers in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, and communities across all 254 counties.

Search for Texas providers or contact us with questions.

Related:

How to Get Medicaid Transportation (general guide)
The Complete Guide to Non-Emergency Medical Transportation

Sources:

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) — Official Texas Medicaid transportation program information
Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) — Medical Transportation Program administration and provider enrollment
HHSC Health Plan Transportation Contact Information — Complete list of health plan transportation phone numbers
Project Amistad MTO — Managed Transportation Organization for West Texas Region 2
HHSC Managed Care Service Areas Map — Texas managed care regional service areas