Non-Emergency Medical Transportation in Rhode Island: NEMT, RIPTA & Senior Transit

Getting your parent to doctor's appointments, dialysis, lab work, and therapy sessions is one of the most time-consuming parts of caregiving. If you cannot drive them yourself — because of your work schedule, distance, or the frequency of appointments — Rhode Island has several transportation programs that most families never discover.

Medicaid NEMT (Free for Medicaid Members)

If your parent is enrolled in Rhode Island Medicaid, they are entitled to free non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) to any covered appointment. This is a federal Medicaid requirement, not an optional add-on.

Rhode Island's NEMT is managed by MTM Health. Here is how to use it:

1. Call 1-855-330-9131 at least two business days before the appointment
2. Provide your parent's Medicaid ID, appointment details, and any mobility requirements (wheelchair, stretcher, ambulatory)
3. MTM dispatches a contracted vehicle — sedan, wheelchair van, or medical transport — to your parent's home
4. No cost. Medicaid members pay nothing for rides to covered medical appointments

The two-business-day advance booking requirement is strict. Same-day requests are rarely accommodated except in urgent situations. If your parent has recurring appointments (like twice-weekly dialysis), you can set up standing ride orders.

The Elderly Transportation Program (ETP)

For seniors aged 60 and older who are not on Medicaid, the Elderly Transportation Program provides subsidized rides to medical appointments and essential errands. ETP is funded through the Office of Healthy Aging.

The program charges a $2.00 copay per trip leg, collected directly by the driver. Rides must be booked in advance through the designated provider for your parent's municipality. Coverage and availability vary by town — some areas have robust service, while rural communities may have limited scheduling.

Contact The POINT at 401-462-4444 to find the ETP provider serving your parent's area.

RIPTA Fixed-Route and ADA Paratransit

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) offers discounted fares for seniors:

• Reduced fare bus passes for riders 65 and older — available at RIPTA's Kennedy Plaza hub in Providence
• RIde Paratransit for seniors with disabilities that prevent using fixed-route buses — this is an ADA-mandated service that operates within three-quarters of a mile of any fixed bus route

RIPTA's fixed routes work well for seniors in Providence, Cranston, Warwick, and other urban corridors. For seniors in more suburban or rural towns, paratransit or the ETP are usually more practical options.

Municipal Transit Services

Several Rhode Island cities and towns operate their own senior transportation:

• Transwick (Warwick) — door-to-door service for Warwick residents aged 55+, $1.00 per round trip
• Transvan (Cranston) — similar municipal service for Cranston seniors
• VetPass — free transportation to VA hospitals for qualifying veterans, administered through RIPTA and OHA

Check with your parent's town hall or senior center for locally funded options. These municipal programs often have the shortest wait times and most flexible scheduling because they serve smaller populations.

Making Transportation Part of the Care Plan

Transportation is one of the first things that falls apart when a parent can no longer drive — and it cascades into missed medications, skipped appointments, and worsening health. Building reliable transport into your parent's care plan early prevents these downstream problems.

If your parent qualifies for Medicaid LTSS home care services, the Rhode Island Home Care Navigation Guide covers how NEMT integrates with the broader care plan, along with checklists for setting up standing ride orders and coordinating transportation across multiple appointment schedules.

See more Rhode Island guides →