Getting to Your Appointment: Non- Emergency Medical Transportation Options for Georgia Medicaid Families

Do you have Georgia Medicaid and have difficulty getting to medical appointments? You may have transportation assistance available to you at no cost.

Georgia Medicaid offers Do you have Georgia Medicaid and have difficulty getting to medical appointments? You may have transportation assistance available to you at no cost. who need transportation to Medicaid-covered health care services and do not have another appropriate way to get there. This can include transportation for medical appointments, evaluations, treatment, and other covered health care services.

At Children's Autism Assessment Center (CAAC), we understand that getting to an autism, neurodevelopmental, or psychoeducational evaluation can involve a lot of planning. Transportation should not have to be an unnecessary barrier to accessing care.

The good news is that NEMT does not always mean riding in a medical transportation vehicle. If you have Medicaid and transportation is a concern, you may have several options depending on your circumstances and what Verida determines is appropriate for your trip.

Who Provides Medicaid Transportation in Georgia?

Beginning April 1, 2026, Verida became the statewide Medicaid NEMT transportation broker for all five regions of Georgia: North, Atlanta, Central, East, and Southwest.

Verida helps arrange transportation for eligible Medicaid members and determines the appropriate transportation method based on the member's needs and the circumstances of the trip.

Transportation is provided at no cost to eligible Medicaid members.

What Transportation Options Are Available?

There are several ways Verida may be able to help you get to your appointment.

1. NEMT Transportation Vehicle

The option most people think of first is having transportation arranged directly through Verida.

Depending on your needs, transportation can involve different types of vehicles, including:

• Automobiles

• Minibuses

• Wheelchair-accessible vehicles

• Stretcher vans

• Other appropriate transportation services

NEMT is generally a shared-ride service. This means you may be traveling with other Medicaid members, and the vehicle may make additional stops during your trip.

When you arrange your ride, make sure you tell Verida about any transportation needs or accommodations that may be important for you or your child.

Tip: If your child has sensory, mobility, communication, or other needs that may affect transportation, explain those needs when you schedule the ride.

2. Gas Reimbursement: Have a Friend or Family Member Drive You

This is an option many families may not realize is available.

If you have a friend or family member who is willing to drive you or your child to an appointment, Verida offers a Gas Reimbursement Program for eligible trips.

Rather than having a transportation company pick you up, an eligible friend or family member may be able to provide the ride and receive reimbursement for qualifying gas expenses.

This may be particularly helpful for families who:

• Have a trusted family member or friend available to drive

• Prefer traveling with someone they already know

• Have a child who is more comfortable traveling with a familiar person

• Would prefer not to use a shared transportation vehicle

  
  

How Does Gas Reimbursement Work?

Gas reimbursement needs to be arranged before the appointment. Verida's current Georgia gas reimbursement information provides instructions for requesting approval, documenting the completed medical trip, and submitting the required reimbursement paperwork.

Generally, the process involves:

Step 1: Contact Verida before your appointment.

Ask about the Gas Reimbursement Program and make sure your trip is approved before you travel.

Step 2: Attend your appointment.

Your medical provider will need to verify that you attended the appointment.

Step 3: Complete the required paperwork.

After the appointment, the required documentation is submitted to Verida for processing.

Important: Do not assume that you can simply have someone drive you and receive reimbursement afterward. Contact Verida before the appointment to confirm that your trip and driver meet the program requirements.

For questions about gas reimbursement:

GAGR@verida.com

3. Public Transportation

If you live close to a public transportation route, you may have another option.

Verida offers a Public Transportation Assistance Program for eligible Medicaid members whose transportation needs can appropriately be met through public transportation.

Depending on your location and circumstances, this may include:

• Bus or rail transportation

• Round-trip transportation

• One-way transportation

• Paratransit

• Demand transportation

• Standing transportation arrangements

Verida can determine whether public transportation is an appropriate option for your particular trip.

Could Public Transportation Work for My Family?

For some families, public transportation may provide more flexibility than a scheduled NEMT vehicle. Verida's public transportation program can include transportation passes and assistance with eligible public transportation services. Certain members may also qualify for paratransit services.

Verida's public transportation materials also provide information about travel training and assistance for members who may benefit from learning how to navigate available public transportation.

For public transportation assistance:

GAtraveltrainers@verida.com

What Is Paratransit?

Paratransit is a specialized transportation service for people who are unable to use regular public transportation because of a qualifying disability or other qualifying circumstances.

For members who qualify, paratransit may provide a more individualized transportation option, including door-to-door service depending on the service available in the member's area.

If you believe paratransit may be more appropriate for you or your child, discuss this with Verida when arranging transportation.

4. Other Transportation Options

Depending on your circumstances, Verida may also use other transportation resources.

Georgia Medicaid's NEMT program can involve transportation such as:

• Public transportation

• Paratransit

• Gas reimbursement

• Automobiles

• Minibuses

• Wheelchair-accessible vehicles

• Stretcher vans

• Other transportation options appropriate for the member

Urgent-care or backup transportation may also be available in certain circumstances.

The transportation option available to you depends on your eligibility, your transportation needs, your location, and the circumstances of your appointment.

What About an Adult Who Needs to Accompany My Child?

If your child needs an adult to accompany them because of a medical reason, Georgia Medicaid's NEMT program allows one medically necessary adult escort.

The escort must be at least 18 years old and must be needed to assist the member during transportation or at the health care appointment. The escort needs to be requested when the transportation is scheduled.

Because NEMT is generally a shared-ride service, additional family members are not automatically guaranteed transportation.

What if I have another child who needs to come with me?

If you need to bring another child with you, talk with Verida when you schedule your transportation. Do not assume that an additional child will automatically be permitted to ride.

Verida will be able to explain what arrangements may be available based on the specific trip and transportation provider.

How Far in Advance Should I Schedule Transportation?

For routine appointments, we recommend arranging transportation at least three workdays before your appointment.

The safest approach is to schedule your transportation as soon as you know your appointment date and time rather than waiting until the last minute.

For example, if your appointment is on Friday, do not wait until Thursday to begin arranging transportation.

For an Autism Evaluation

We recommend scheduling transportation as soon as your in person evaluation appointment is scheduled.

Autism and neurodevelopmental evaluations can involve longer appointment times (usually 1–2.5 hours), and it is important to make sure your transportation reservation works with the entire appointment.

When scheduling your transportation, make sure Verida has the correct appointment time, location, and any information they need about your transportation needs.

What If My Appointment Is Scheduled Less Than Three Days Away?

There are circumstances in which transportation can be arranged more quickly.

Georgia Medicaid and Verida recognize certain situations as urgent care transportation. This generally applies when a member needs to be seen the same day and the situation cannot reasonably wait until the following day, but there is no immediate threat to life or limb. Verida's current Georgia guidance states that valid urgent-care transportation requests are to be honored within three hours of the request.

A routine autism or neurodevelopmental evaluation should generally be planned ahead using the normal scheduling requirements.

If your appointment was scheduled with less than three workdays' notice, contact Verida directly as soon as possibleand ask whether transportation can be arranged.

If Verida is unable to accommodate the transportation needed for your appointment, contact CAAC at (404) 390-1322 and we will be happy to help you reschedule your appointment.

How Do I Schedule My Ride?

You can arrange transportation through Verida's Georgia Medicaid transportation program.

Online

You can use the Verida Member Portal to manage your transportation.

Verida Member Portal

By Phone

Verida's Georgia Medicaid transportation representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time for routine transportation scheduling.

When scheduling your ride, have the following information available:

• Your Medicaid ID

• Appointment date

• Appointment time

• Appointment location

• The type of transportation you need

• Any special accommodations

• Information about an escort, if one is medically necessary

If you are interested in gas reimbursement, public transportation, or paratransit, tell Verida when you call so they can explain which options may be available to you.

What If My Ride Doesn't Show Up?

If your scheduled transportation does not arrive, contact Verida's transportation dispatch service.

Verida's current Georgia member information explains that members should be prepared for shared rides and multiple stops. Verida also provides a process for contacting dispatch when a vehicle is late.

If your transportation is significantly delayed, contact Verida's dispatch center and ask for assistance with your ride. Please also contract us at (404)390-1322 to inform us of any delays. If your scheduled arrival time is more that 15-30 minutes past your scheduled time with us we may need to adjust, break up, or reschedule the evaluation but we will always work to figure out what's feasible before fully rescheduling an appointment. 

If you experience a problem with your transportation, we also recommend documenting what happened and reporting the issue to Verida.

For additional questions or concerns regarding Georgia Medicaid NEMT, you can contact the Georgia Department of Community Health Member Contact Center at 1-866-211-0950.

Transportation Tips for Families Coming to CAAC

Before your appointment at Children's Autism Assessment Center, we recommend:

1. Schedule transportation as soon as possible.

Don't wait until the day before your evaluation. Request transportation at least three workdays in advance whenever possible.

Please let our staff know if transportation scheduling creates a problem for your appointment. We will be happy to work with you when possible.

2. Ask about all of your options.

You don't necessarily have to use a transportation vehicle.

Ask Verida whether you may qualify for:

NEMT vehicle transportation • Gas reimbursement • Public transportation • Paratransit

3. Tell Verida about your child's needs.

If your child has sensory, mobility, communication, behavioral, or other transportation-related needs, make sure Verida knows when you schedule the trip.

4. Request your escort in advance.

If your child requires a medically necessary adult escort, make sure this is discussed when the transportation is scheduled.

5. If a family member can drive you, ask about gas reimbursement.

Don't assume you have to use a Verida vehicle. Ask whether your friend or family member may qualify to provide the transportation and receive reimbursement for eligible gas expenses.

6. Keep your transportation information.

Save your confirmation information and Verida's contact information somewhere you can easily access it on appointment day.

Coming to Children's Autism Assessment Center?

If you are scheduled for an evaluation at Children's Autism Assessment Center and transportation is a concern, please let our scheduling team know.

We can provide you with your appointment information so that you have what you need when arranging transportation.

However, Verida is responsible for determining NEMT eligibility, approving transportation, and arranging the transportation itself. CAAC cannot approve NEMT transportation or guarantee that a particular transportation option will be available.

We encourage families to contact Verida directly and ask about all available options, especially if traveling in a shared vehicle may be difficult for your child.

The Bottom Line

If you have Georgia Medicaid and transportation is preventing you from getting to a medically necessary appointment, you may have more options than you realize.

Depending on your circumstances, Verida may be able to help with:

🚐 NEMT transportation

⛽ Gas reimbursement for an eligible friend or family member

🚌 Public transportation

♿ Paratransit

🚕 Other appropriate transportation options

You do not have to figure this out alone. Contact Verida before your appointment and ask which transportation option may work best for you or your child.

Helpful Resources

Georgia Medicaid — Non-Emergency Medical Transportation- https://medicaid.georgia.gov/programs/all-programs/non-emergency-medical-transportation?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Verida Georgia Medicaid Transportation- https://verida.com/georgia-members-dch/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Verida Member Portal- https://member.verida.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Gas Reimbursement: GAGR@verida.com

Public Transportation Assistance: GAtraveltrainers@verida.com

Georgia Medicaid Member Contact Center: 1-866-211-0950