State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Release 25-02 April 9, 2025

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38.3 Transportation

Federal regulations require the Medicaid program provide transportation for members who have no other way to receive a ride to their Medicaid health care appointments. Transportation can be by ambulance, specialized medical vehicle (SMV) or common carrier.

38.3.1 Ambulance

Ambulance transportation is a covered service, if it is provided by a BadgerCare Plus certified ambulance provider, and the member is suffering from an illness or injury that rules out other forms of transportation, and only if it is for:

1. Emergency care when immediate medical treatment or examination is needed to deal with or guard against a worsening of the person’s condition.  
2. Non-emergency transportation when use of any other method of transportation is contraindicated and is authorized in writing by a physician, physician assistant, nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse.

38.3.2 Specialized Medical Vehicle (SMV)

An SMV is a vehicle equipped with a lift or ramp for loading wheelchairs. The driver of an SMV must meet driver requirements in accordance with DHS 105.39 Wis. Admin Code.

SMV transportation is a covered service if provided by a BadgerCare Plus SMV enrolled provider and a health care provider has documented why the member’s condition prevents them from using a common carrier or private vehicle.

38.3.3 Common Carrier

Common carrier means any mode of transportation other than an ambulance or an SMV.

38.3.4 Transportation Coordination

Non-emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) is coordinated by Department of Health Services’ NEMT manager, Medical Transportation Management, Inc. (MTM Inc.). As the NEMT manager, MTM Inc. arranges and pays for rides to covered Medicaid services for members who have no other way to receive a ride. Rides can include ambulance, SMV or common carrier transportation depending on a member’s medical and transportation needs.

The NEMT manager does not coordinate transportation for the following members:

• Members who are residing in a nursing home.
  • Members residing in a nursing home have their NEMT services coordinated by the nursing home.
• Members who are enrolled in Family Care.
  • Members enrolled in Family Care receive NEMT services from the Family Care Managed Care Organization (MCO).

This page last updated in Release Number: 13-02
Release Date: 10/25/13
Effective Date: 10/01/13

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The information concerning the BadgerCare Plus program provided in this handbook release is published in accordance with: Titles XI, XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act; Parts 430 through 481 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations; Chapter 49 of the Wisconsin Statutes; and Chapters HA 3, DHS 2 and 101 through 109 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.

Notice: The content within this manual is the sole responsibility of the State of Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (DHS). This site will link to sites outside of DHS where appropriate. DHS is in no way responsible for the content of sites outside of DHS.

Publication Number: P-10171