NJ Medicaid Transportation Guide (NEMT)
The definitive resource for NJ FamilyCare members on non-emergency medical transportation — what's covered, how to request rides, managed care plan contacts, standing orders for dialysis, and how to fight a denial.
Table of Contents
1. What Is NJ Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare)?
New Jersey's Medicaid program is called NJ FamilyCare. It is a joint federal and state health insurance program that provides coverage to low-income individuals and families, pregnant women, children, seniors, and people with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements.
NJ FamilyCare is administered through managed care organizations (MCOs) — private health plans that contract with the state to provide Medicaid benefits including, critically, non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). As a federal Medicaid requirement, NEMT is a mandatory benefit: states must ensure that eligible members have transportation to and from covered medical services when they have no other means of getting there.
The NJ Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS), part of the NJ Department of Human Services, oversees the NJ FamilyCare program. For general Medicaid information, call the NJ FamilyCare hotline at 1-800-701-0710.
2. Who Qualifies for NEMT Under NJ FamilyCare?
To receive NEMT benefits under NJ FamilyCare, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be an active NJ FamilyCare member enrolled in a participating managed care plan
- Be traveling to or from a covered Medicaid service (doctor visits, dialysis, chemotherapy, hospital, mental health, etc.)
- Have no other means of transportation — no personal vehicle, no family member able to drive you, no public transit that is medically accessible
- Obtain prior authorization from your MCO's transportation broker before the trip
Important Note
Wheelchair van or ambulance transport requires a physician's written "prescription of necessity" certifying that the patient cannot safely use standard sedan transport. Make sure your doctor provides this documentation before your transport authorization expires.
3. NJ FamilyCare Managed Care Plans & NEMT
In NJ, Medicaid members are enrolled in one of five managed care organizations. For all five plans, non-emergency transportation is arranged through the same statewide broker, ModivCare (formerly LogistiCare), so the booking line is the same no matter which plan you have. See our ModivCare NJ guide for the full booking, standing-order, and complaint process.
The five NJ FamilyCare MCOs as of 2025–2026 are:
- Aetna Better Health of New Jersey
- Fidelis Care (formerly WellCare of New Jersey)
- Horizon NJ Health
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
- Wellpoint New Jersey (formerly Amerigroup)
See the contact table in Section 10 for specific transportation phone numbers.
4. How to Request Medicaid Transportation
The process for requesting NEMT through NJ FamilyCare follows these steps:
Confirm your appointment is a covered Medicaid service
Transportation is only authorized to medically covered appointments. Doctor visits, dialysis, chemotherapy, mental health, specialist visits, lab work, and hospital stays all qualify. Personal errands or appointments at non-covered providers do not.
Gather your information
You will need your NJ FamilyCare member ID, your doctor's name, address, and phone number, the appointment date and time, and your home address. For wheelchair transport, you will also need your physician's prescription of necessity.
Call your MCO's transportation line
Find your MCO's transportation number in Section 10 of this guide or on the back of your insurance card. Call at least 2 business days before your appointment (or earlier for new authorizations). Provide all required information and confirm the pickup time.
Get your authorization number
Write down your authorization or trip confirmation number. This is your proof that the ride has been approved. If the driver does not arrive, call your MCO's transportation broker with this number.
Be ready early on the day of transport
NEMT drivers serve multiple patients and may arrive within a pickup window rather than an exact time. Be ready 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup. Have your member ID card with you.
5. Advance Booking Requirements
NJ FamilyCare MCOs have specific advance notice requirements for NEMT:
| Trip Type | Minimum Advance Notice |
|---|---|
| Scheduled medical appointment (new) | 2 business days |
| Dialysis / chemotherapy (standing order) | 1 call to set up recurring |
| Urgent appointment (urgent, not emergency) | Same day to 24 hours |
| Emergency transport | 911 — not covered by NEMT |
| Discharge from hospital | 24 hours advance (ideally 48) |
Requirements may vary by MCO. Always confirm with your specific plan.
6. What Vehicle Types Are Covered?
NJ Medicaid covers the least costly mode of transportationthat meets the patient's medical needs. Modes covered include:
- Public transit / bus passes — for ambulatory patients without physical limitations
- Volunteer driver / mileage reimbursement — for patients with a family member or friend willing to drive
- Sedan / taxi-style transport — for ambulatory patients who cannot use public transit
- Wheelchair-accessible van — for patients who use a wheelchair or cannot transfer safely to a standard vehicle (requires prescription of necessity)
- Ambulance / stretcher transport — for patients who cannot sit upright or require medical monitoring during transport (requires physician order)
Delta Medical Transportation provides wheelchair van and ambulance/stretcher transport as a credentialed NJ NEMT provider.
7. Dialysis Standing Orders
For hemodialysis patients requiring transport 3 times per week, NJ FamilyCare allows standing order authorizations — a single approval covering all recurring dialysis trips for a set period (typically 90 days to 1 year), rather than requesting each trip individually.
To set up a dialysis standing order:
- Your nephrologist must provide a completed prescription of necessity specifying the dialysis center name, address, frequency (e.g., Monday/Wednesday/Friday), and approximate times
- Your MCO's transportation broker will review and authorize the standing order
- Once approved, your rides are confirmed for every session within the authorization period without re-calling
- Renew 2–4 weeks before the standing order expires to avoid a gap in service
See our full Dialysis Transportation Guide for more detail on this process.
8. What to Do If Your Transport Is Denied
Transport denials can happen for several reasons, including:
- Missing or incomplete prescription of necessity
- Appointment is with a non-participating Medicaid provider
- Request submitted too close to the appointment date
- MCO believes a less costly transport mode is appropriate
- Authorization period has expired (standing order renewal needed)
If you are denied, do not simply accept the denial. You have the right to appeal. See Section 9 for the appeal process. In the meantime, if you need transportation urgently, contact Delta Medical Transportation at (973) 389-3110 — we offer private-pay options and can often schedule on short notice.
9. How to Appeal a Denied Transport
NJ FamilyCare members have the right to appeal any adverse transport decision. The appeal process works as follows:
Step 1
Request a peer-to-peer review
Ask your MCO to have your physician speak directly with their medical director. This informal review resolves many denials quickly when the physician can explain the medical necessity directly.
Step 2
File a formal grievance with your MCO
Submit a written appeal to your MCO within 30 days of the denial. Include your physician's prescription of necessity, any supporting medical documentation, and a written statement explaining why the transport is medically necessary. Your MCO must respond within 30 days (or 72 hours for urgent cases).
Step 3
Appeal to NJ DMAHS
If your MCO upholds the denial, you can request an external appeal through the NJ Office of Administrative Law (OAL). Contact the NJ Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services at 1-800-356-1561 or visit the DMAHS website for appeal forms.
Step 4
Contact the NJ Office of the Ombudsman
For assistance navigating the appeal process, contact the NJ Office of the Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly or your county's legal services organization. They can provide free guidance and advocacy.
10. NJ FamilyCare MCO Transportation Contact Numbers
To book a covered ride, call ModivCare at 1-866-527-9933— the same statewide line for every NJ FamilyCare plan. Your plan's Member Services number (below) is for benefit questions and grievances, not for booking rides.
| NJ FamilyCare Plan | Member Services | Book a Ride (ModivCare) |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna Better Health of New Jersey | 1-855-232-3596 | 1-866-527-9933 |
| Fidelis Care (formerly WellCare of NJ) | See member ID card | 1-866-527-9933 |
| Horizon NJ Health | 1-800-682-9090 | 1-866-527-9933 |
| UnitedHealthcare Community Plan | 1-800-941-4647 | 1-866-527-9933 |
| Wellpoint New Jersey (formerly Amerigroup) | 833-731-2147 | 1-866-527-9933 |
Phone numbers subject to change. Always confirm on the back of your insurance card or at njfamilycare.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NJ Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare) cover transportation to doctor appointments?
Yes. NJ FamilyCare covers non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) for eligible members who have no other means of getting to covered medical appointments. Transportation must be to a covered Medicaid service and must be requested through your managed care organization (MCO) before the appointment.
How far in advance do I need to request Medicaid transportation in NJ?
Most NJ FamilyCare MCOs require at least 2 business days advance notice for scheduled medical appointments. Dialysis and other recurring treatments may be set up as standing orders with just one call. Emergency same-day transport requests are handled case by case.
What NJ FamilyCare plans cover transportation?
All five NJ FamilyCare managed care plans — Aetna Better Health of New Jersey, Fidelis Care (formerly WellCare), Horizon NJ Health, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, and Wellpoint (formerly Amerigroup) — provide NEMT benefits to eligible members. For every plan, rides are arranged through the same statewide broker, ModivCare, at 1-866-527-9933.
What types of vehicles are covered under NJ Medicaid NEMT?
NJ Medicaid NEMT covers the least costly, most medically appropriate mode of transportation. This includes standard sedan service, wheelchair-accessible vans, and ambulance/stretcher transport when medically necessary. A physician's order or prescription of necessity may be required for ambulance-level transport.
Can I use Delta Medical Transportation with my Medicaid plan?
Yes, Delta Medical Transportation works with NJ FamilyCare managed care organizations as a NEMT provider. Your MCO's transportation broker will coordinate the authorization. You can also call Delta directly at (973) 389-3110 for guidance on self-pay or private-pay options if Medicaid transport is delayed.
What happens if my Medicaid transportation request is denied?
You have the right to appeal a denied transport authorization. First, request a peer-to-peer review through your MCO. If still denied, file a formal grievance with the MCO. You can also appeal to the NJ Department of Human Services Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS). Requests must typically be appealed within 30 days of the denial.
How do dialysis patients set up recurring Medicaid transportation in NJ?
Dialysis patients can set up a standing order for recurring transport with their MCO's transportation broker. Your nephrologist must provide a prescription of necessity documenting the medical need for 3x/week hemodialysis transport. Once approved, rides are automatically authorized for each treatment session without re-requesting.
What is a Medicaid prescription of necessity for transportation?
A prescription of necessity (also called a certificate of medical necessity) is a written statement from your physician documenting why you cannot use standard transportation and require a wheelchair van or ambulance for medical transport. It is required for wheelchair and stretcher transport authorization under NJ Medicaid.
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