June 30, 2025
I just spoke with Trisha Guy Schell at DoH re: the information I shared with you yesterday (below and attached) re: the implementation of the CMMA for Medicaid Transportation services for clients receiving care via an OTP and OP program.
Apparently OP and OTP Programs will receive an invitation to the state-hosted July 9 Webinar (I mentioned yesterday) today or tomorrow. I also heard the following (I know this is stated in one of the docs I shared with everyone yesterday – attached – but I’ll say it here as I heard it):
For OTP and Outpatient Clinic care recipients who currently travel outside of their CMMA for services, there is what is often referred to as a Standing Order in the MAS system that gives the client the ability to do so. Upon implementation of the CMMA, care recipients whose Standing Order forms are expiring on 7/28 will have 60 days to begin to transition to a program inside their CMMA. I assume the grace period applies to those with different Standing Order end dates but I don’t know for how long the grace period is in effect for those with Orders expiring.
Trisha wanted me to know that the vast majority of care recipients who will be impacted by this transition are OTP clients and as you will recall Pat Lincourt (OASAS) said yesterday that it is a small number of OP clients that are impacted in most instances, and where there is a significant number of OP clients impacted, regional offices are contacting these outpatient programs to ensure they are aware of what’s happening. My response to Trisha was to move past the discussion of how many clients are impacted by this very short notice, stating that if even one client loses care as the result of this implementation, it will be (in my opinion) disastrous and a clear step in the wrong direction when it comes to our priority to ensure continuity of care for each and every care recipient.
I have another call today with OASAS at 12:30.
———- Forwarded message ———
From: Lauri Cole <lauri@nyscouncil.org>
Date: Sun, Jun 29, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Subject: OASAS and Medicaid Transportation for OTP & OP Care Recipients
To:
Good morning,
On Friday I was made aware of an issue I want to bring to your attention.
I have been following and occasionally weighing in with state leaders (based on member feedback and concerns) about an ongoing situation involving OASAS care recipients who utilize Medicaid Transportation services to travel to/from the OASAS OTP or Outpatient facility that serves them. Initially, the state’s decision to ‘turn on’ or implement the use of the CMMA system for OASAS clients that use this transportation option appeared to be limited to OTP clients, however more recent information provided to OTP providers and OTP clients indicates Outpatient Clinic clients are also impacted.
Background: OASAS has been focused on implementing this policy for OTP clients for over a year, and working with OTP providers to ensure compliance and provide lead time within which to prepare for the changes to be implemented shortly. There have been problems with the transportation program for several; years. However, as I reviewed all the documents on this matter, it seemed clear that clients using these services to access OASAS Article 32 – Part 822 Outpatient Clinic services are also impacted.
Upon learning of this new development (new to Outpatient Clinic providers from what I can tell) I reached out to Trisha Schell-Guy, Leslie Puryear and Pat Lincort late Friday night. Yesterday I received the following response to my inquiry as to whether Outpatient Clinic clients are also impacted by this policy implementation (presumably effective on July 28 although I haven’t confirmed this yet). Pat Lincort at OASAS sent the following reply: (Note: ‘CMMA’ is Common Medical Market Area)“Yes. The outpatient programs that have clients who are currently being transported by car paid through Medicaid out of CMMA received notification earlier this month. Most outpatient programs have very few clients, if any, that will need to find alternative transportation or transition to a program within their CMMA. There are a few programs that have a larger impact and regional office is reaching out to them to make sure that they are aware of the process.”
Attached to this email and below (pasted) please find ALL of the information I have at this point regarding this implementation. Apparently OASAS will be holding a Webinar for ALL impacted OASAS Programs (OTP and Outpatient Program) on July 9 although I do not believe a notice to this effect has gone out from the state to Outpatient Clinic providers. It should be noted that the initial implementation for this policy date was June 30 but it has been delayed until 7/28.
Please review the documents attached and pasted below. Some of them are meant for impacted clients while others are meant for providers, and not all are consistent in terms of messaging that this implementation will impact both OTP and Outpatient Clinic care recipients who use the service in question. That’s why I sought confirmation from Pat Lincort and the others yesterday.
I want to share everything I have at this point. I have known for some time that OTPs were meeting with the state on this matter, but I did not know until Friday that clients receiving OASAS Outpatient Clinic services who use this transportation option are also impacted.
I intend to speak to OASAS leaders in greater detail first thing tomorrow morning. Obviously I have concerns regarding the manner in which this initiative is rolling out, timelines for implementation, and (most importantly) the impact of these changes on continuity of care for those who need these services. I also have questions regarding exemptions for clients that have real issues with this policy implementation.
————
From: oasas.sm.SOTA.Mailbox <SOTA.Mailbox@oasas.ny.gov>
Date: Fri, May 30, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Subject: TIME-SENSITIVE: Post-OTP Mandatory Transportation Webinar: Important Information/Next Steps
To:
Dear OTP Colleagues:
Pursuant to the May 12, 2025 OASAS OTP Mandatory Webinar, the Department of Health’s (DOH) Transportation Broker, MAS, will begin corresponding directly with programs starting June 2, 2025. The purpose of the weekly correspondence is to identify Medicaid enrollees with upcoming standing order expirations so programs can assist in transitioning the enrollees to programs closer to their homes if they wish to continue to use Medicaid transportation. MAS will be transmitting this information via the Health Commerce System (HCS). As such, the identified contact must have access to the HCS. If the identified contact does not have access to the HCS they should request and create an HCS account as soon as possible. Information on requesting an HCS account is attached.
To ensure MAS is getting the correct information to the appropriate program contact, DOH and OASAS are asking each program to identify and submit the name, phone number, email address, HCS user name, and job title of the designated contact to medtrans@health.ny.gov no later than June 5, 2025. Along with the weekly member lists, MAS will also be sending programs the attached enrollee-facing document. We recommend programs distribute this document to patients as it will help them understand the upcoming policy enforcement and provide helpful guidance.
A recording of the May 12th webinar is available here and Questions & Answers from the webinar are attached.
Thank you.
Lesley Puryear, LMSW
Director, Bureau of Opioid Treatment
Division of Addiction Treatment & Recovery (ATAR)
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(Apparently this was sent to impacted OTP and OP clients on May 29)
Medicaid Transportation Policy Reminder from NYS Department of Health (DOH) and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) Overview:
The Medicaid Transportation program ensures Medicaid members can get to and from their medical appointments at no cost to them. We arrange non-emergency transportation, such as pre-scheduled trips to primary care and the dentist. For emergency medical services, please call 911. We do not provide trips to non-medical locations like pharmacies, gyms, schools, or grocery stores. Trips are arranged at the most medically appropriate, cost-effective level of service. These include public transit, taxi/livery, ambulette, ambulance (ALS/BLS), and personal vehicle mileage
reimbursement. Members generally travel using the same mode they use for daily living.
The Department contracts with a transportation broker, Medical Answering Services (MAS). They
schedule the trips, manage contact centers, conduct utilization review, and perform other administrative functions for the Medicaid Transportation program.
More detail about the program can be found on the Department’s website at
Medicaid transportation policies are reviewed periodically. Recently, policies concerning the distance an enrollee may travel for services when the same service is available closer to their home address have been reviewed, and program changes are needed to comply with existing policy.
Why Does This Matter?
Medicaid transportation regulations require transportation to be within the “common medical marketing area” (CMMA) associated with your address. The current treatment program you receive service from may be impacted by this CMMA policy review. At this time, with assistance from your current OTP or OP, you may be required to return to an OTP closer to your home in order to receive transportation to OTP or OP services.
How Do You Know if Your Transportation Will Be Impacted?
When your transportation to your current program was set up, a medical provider completed a
“Standing Order” for recurring trips on your behalf. When your Standing Order is set to expire, the
Medicaid Transportation Broker (MAS) will contact your current OTP or OP to determine if services are available closer to your home address. Your current OTP or OP will contact you with information should services be available closer to your home. See details in the section below.
Can I still go to my regular program?:
Medicaid allows you to have the freedom to choose any medical provider you wish to use.
However, if that medical provider is outside the CMMA, a medical provider within the CMMA must
complete documentation in order for Medicaid to be able to cover the transportation expense outside the CMMA.2
What You Need to Do:
Option 1: Continue receiving your OTP or OP services at your current location.
*Please note, Medicaid Transportation may not continue if you choose to continue treatment at
the current program outside of the CMMA. Your current OTP or OP can share your available
treatment options to continue being transported to treatment.
Option 2: Transition to an OTP or OP facility within your CMMA in which you would continue
receiving Medicaid covered transportation.
If you choose Option 2, your current OTP or OP facility staff will work with you to create a
transition plan to your new OTP or OP facility. This Transition must take place at the end of
your current “Standing Order” or within an extended grace period from the end or your current
“Standing Order.”
Your new OTP or OP facility will schedule Medicaid transportation for Intake and then by setting
up a “Standing Order” for Medicaid Transportation to your ongoing OTP or OP appointments.
NYC Public Transportation:
In New York City, if an enrollee chooses to continue receiving services at an OTP or OP which is not
within the CMMA, public transportation (MTA) would be the option covered by Medicaid. Your current
OTP or OP facility can facilitate this.
Questions:
• Questions related to Medicaid transportation policies can be directed to the Department of
Health at medtrans@health.ny.gov or at 518-473-2160
• Questions related to OTP patient advocacy can be directed to the Office of Addiction Services
and Supports at PatientAdvocacy@oasas.ny.gov or at 1-800-553-5790
• General questions about setting up transportation to medical appointments can be made
through the MAS online portal https://www.medanswering.com/ or by calling the MAS Contact
Center (Downstate: 844-666-6270; Upstate: 866-932-77
partment of Health (DOH) and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS);Released May 29, 2025
———————–
Sent by the state to OTPs on June 27 – unsure whether this was also sent to Outpatient Clinics too)
Dear OTP Colleagues:
Your attendance is needed at an upcoming meeting with NYS DOH, OASAS, and MAS on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from 11:00am-12:30pm. This meeting will cover important updates to the Medicaid Transportation’s Common Medical Marketing Area (CMMA) policy and will provide helpful resources.
Here is the registration link to the webinar: https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/rb8ea531aac74fd6516e072c9e2df5e6b
Please review the information below, which will be covered in more detail at the meeting on July 9th:
- DOH has delayed the transition start date for existing members traveling outside of CMMA to July 28, 2025 (the transition date was previously set for June 30th). See attached CMMA timeline slides.
- MAS will continue to use the Health Commerce System (HCS) to send lists of impacted members to programs (if programs have provided an HCS contact). Beginning next week, programs will see lists of members whose standing orders for transportation are expiring during the week of July 28th. Instructions for finding these lists within the HCS are attached. To help programs access this information more easily, the MAS system now includes a feature to identify those outside of CMMAs and sort by standing order expiration date. Screenshots of this functionality are attached.
- DOH will be sending a text message to impacted members on June 30th, 2025. This message will explain that members who are traveling out of county for services may be impacted by an upcoming policy, and will link to the member document that was previously shared with programs: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/members/transportation/docs/medicaid_trans_cmma_policy.pdf