MATP Pennsylvania: Free Medical Transportation for Seniors

Your parent has Medicaid but can't drive to doctor appointments. The standard answer — "just call an Uber" — ignores that many seniors need door-to-door assistance, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, or someone to help them into the car. Pennsylvania's Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) exists for exactly this situation.

What MATP Covers

MATP provides free transportation to and from medical appointments for anyone enrolled in Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid). This includes seniors on Community HealthChoices, individuals receiving Medicaid through the spend-down pathway, and anyone with an active Medical Assistance card.

Covered trips include:

• Doctor and specialist appointments
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation sessions
• Dialysis treatments
• Pharmacy visits
• Dental and vision appointments
• Mental health and substance use treatment
• Hospital follow-ups

MATP does not cover non-medical trips — grocery shopping, social visits, or errands. For those, the Shared Ride program (covered below) is the option.

How to Use MATP

Each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties contracts with a local transportation coordinator to manage MATP. The process varies slightly by county, but the general steps are consistent:

Schedule in advance. Most counties require 3 to 5 business days' notice for non-emergency medical trips. Emergency trips can sometimes be accommodated same-day, but don't count on it.

Call your county coordinator. Your Medicaid enrollment letter identifies the local MATP provider, or you can find them through the Department of Human Services. Some counties use transit authorities, others use private vendors.

Provide trip details. You'll need the appointment date, time, location, and your parent's Medical Assistance ID number. Specify if your parent uses a wheelchair, walker, or needs door-to-door assistance rather than curb-to-curb pickup.

Mileage reimbursement option. If a family member drives the Medicaid recipient to appointments, MATP reimburses mileage at the current state rate. Submit the reimbursement form through your county coordinator with proof of the medical appointment.

The Shared Ride Program

Separate from MATP, Pennsylvania's Shared Ride program offers reduced-fare transportation for seniors aged 65 and older. This covers any purpose — medical, social, shopping, religious services — not just medical appointments.

The Pennsylvania Lottery funds 85% of the fare. Your parent pays the remaining 15%, which typically amounts to a few dollars per trip depending on distance.

Shared Ride operates through local transit authorities and paratransit providers. Service availability and scheduling requirements vary by county — rural counties may offer limited routes or require advance booking. Contact your Area Agency on Aging for the local Shared Ride provider.

Community HealthChoices Transportation

If your parent is enrolled in a CHC managed care plan (AmeriHealth Caritas, PA Health & Wellness, or UPMC Community HealthChoices), transportation to medical appointments may also be available directly through the plan. CHC plans coordinate non-emergency medical transportation as part of their managed care contract.

Check with your parent's CHC Service Coordinator — using the plan's transportation benefit may be simpler than coordinating separately through MATP, especially if the plan has contracted with local providers who already serve your parent's area.

Tips for Reliable Service

MATP is essential but imperfect. Scheduling gaps, long wait times after appointments, and limited wheelchair-accessible vehicles are common complaints, particularly in rural counties.

To minimize friction: schedule recurring appointments (like dialysis) as standing orders with the coordinator, request the earliest pickup window to avoid afternoon delays, confirm the trip 24 hours in advance, and always have a backup plan for the first few rides until you know how reliable your county's provider is.

The Pennsylvania Home Care Navigator includes county-by-county contact directories for MATP coordinators, Shared Ride providers, and CHC transportation benefits, plus a transportation coordination worksheet to keep all scheduling in one place.

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