Medical Assistance Transportation Program Changes

In an effort to contain rising costs, the Pa. Dept. of Public Welfare has approved changes in the Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) for Potter County. These changes are now in effect for clients who require transportation to out-of-county medical facilities. Service for dialysis patients are not affected by the changes.

Effective today, Potter County Human Services MATP will provide rides for medical appointments in accordance with the following monthly schedule:

• Mondays — Harrisburg, first Monday; Rochester, second Monday; Buffalo, third Monday;
• Tuesdays — Sayre, Wellsboro and Mansfield, second Tuesday; Olean and Bradford, third Tuesday; Smethport and Eldred, fourth Tuesday;
• Thursdays — Pittsburgh, first Thursday; Danville and Williamsport, second Thursday; DuBois, third Thursday; State College, fourth Thursday.

Patients should schedule their appointments between 9 am to 3 pm. Transportation may be scheduled a month in advance, but must be no later than 2 pm at least one week prior to the medical appointment.

If you cannot make your appointment for the days and times shown above, please call the Potter County Human Services MATP office at 814-544-7315, and a specialist will help you. Human Services must be able to contact your medical provider and you may be required to provide a verification note.

Please plan to be ready within the pick-up window that your transportation provider assigns. Due to the large service area, some riders will need to travel for longer durations than others. You must be ready 15 minutes before to 15 minutes after your scheduled pickup time. The driver is only required to wait for you for five minutes past your pickup time.

Anyone utilizing the vouchers system is now being reimbursed at the Pa. Dept. of Public Welfare reduced rate of 12 cents per mile. Consumers can only transfer from the voucher system to para-transit services if they can provide written documentation that they no longer have adequate transportation and/or they no longer have anyone available to provide the service for them. Human Services will be verifying these requests; falsifying documentation will result in loss of services and possible criminal action.

DPW has also changed its definition of “service area” for the MATP program. As a result, Potter County Human Services will not be funding transportation to a provider at a greater distance if there is a qualified local provider available.