The following is a list of questions and answers to the most common transportation concerns. If your question is not listed or you require additional clarification to an answer, please contact us during normal business hours.
1. How do I schedule a trip?
We will call you the evening before your scheduled pick up; to confirm the time/place and appointment.
We will pick you up from your house or facility. Your driver will present a card with their cell phone number to contact him/her upon completion of your appointment.
We allow one additional adult to perform legitame personal needed services as an escort or caretaker to ride along with the authorized passenger.
2. Why doesn’t my insurance cover this trip?
Brown Transportation Service provides non-emergency medical transportation. Most insurance carriers will cover the cost of an ambulance transport if it is an emergency or “Medically Necessary”. If transportation services are deemed non emergency, the transportation must be approved by an authorized insurance company for reasons they deem as necessary; or by a Medicaid insurance provider who has authority to approve transportation services, in advance. Medicare requires that the patient be bed-confined and unable to be moved by any means other than a stretcher. Contact your insurance provider for further information.
3. Is this covered by Medicaid/Medicare?
Medicare does not normally cover wheelchair transportation. Medicaid does provide wheelchair transportation. However; Brown Transportation Service will evaluate each request to determine our ability to handle each passenger request.
4. How much will my trip cost?
There are several factors which determine our cost for service. Fees are based on mileage; and whether the passenger needs assistance walking, transferring from a wheelchair into a vehicle or needs a wheelchair lift. Contact us for a price quote.
5. Do you wait for me while I’m at my appointment?
If your appointment is within our local area, we will return (normally within 30 minutes or less) to return you to your destination. If you are traveling a distance of 25-100 miles, we will accompany you and wait locally. We will return for your pickup within 5-10 minutes.Your driver will drop you off at your appointment and present you with a phone number to call when your appointment has concluded.
6. How do I pay for services?
Most passenger services are provided through a third party. No payment is required from the passenger. However, if you have requested services directly from Brown Transportation Service, we prefer you pay at time the driver arrives to pick you up for your trip. Payment can be made by credit card or cash. Receipts will be provided as proof of payment. No checks are accepted.
7. Can you take me shopping?
Yes, if your request is solely for shopping, we can accommodate the trip.
Our primary mission is to provide transportation for medically related appointments, rehabilitation and counseling services. However, we will make individual trips for shopping or additional scheduled stops; for a fee.
8. Can you take me to the airport?
Yes, scheduled trips to airports may be requested.
9. Is there a penalty for canceling a trip?
Should there be a need to cancel transportation, please contact us to cancel within 12 hours of your scheduled pick up time. You may also cancel when Brown Transportation calls to verify your pick up time. If our vehicle arrives at your pick-up location and you decline the trip, or you are not present, you will be charged a cancellation fee. (If we can not reach you by phone to confirm the trip, we will not dispatch a driver and your reservation will be cancelled by Brown Transportation Service.
10. Will Brown Transportation Service bill my Insurance carrier directly?
Yes. Brown Transportation Service will contact your insurance carrier to confirm authorization and billing for your transportation. If the carrier approves billing, we will invoice your insurance carrier directly. Any co-pays, deductibles, and/or non-covered service payments at the time of transport must be paid to the carrier by the passenger. Brown Transportation Service does not accept personal checks. You will be notified before the scheduled pickup if a payment will be expected, at the time of transport.
11.What does Medicare cover?
In general, Medicare will cover medically necessary emergency ambulance transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility. Emergency ambulance transportation may qualify for Medicare coverage if the transport is a result of a sudden onset of a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in placing the patient’s health in serious jeopardy, impairment to bodily function, or serious dysfunction to any bodily organ or part. Medicare requires that ambulance transportation be medically necessary and reasonable. To be medically necessary, Medicare requires that the use of any other method of transportation would be hazardous to the patient’s health, whether or not any other methods of transportation are available. To be reasonable, for example, Medicare requires the patient to be transported to the nearest appropriate facility for treatment.Certain medically necessary non-emergency ambulance transports are covered by Medicare; however wheelchair transportation is not a covered benefit under the Medicare program. Qualifying non emergency ambulance transportation will require a medical necessity form to be filled out and signed by your physician stating the specific reason(s) ambulance transportation is necessary and that transportation by any other means would pose a hazard to the patient’s health.If Medicare approves the charges, they will pay 80% of the allowable rate. The remaining 20% will be your responsibility; if there is no payment made from a secondary insurance source.
- What does Medicaid cover?
Generally, Medicaid will cover medically necessary transportation services for qualifying individuals. However, like all insurance carriers, there are different policies that have different requirements so it is recommended you check with your Medicaid program to better understand coverage for transportation services. Most Medicaid programs will not cover transportation for the convenience of the patient and/or family and will only cover transportation for medical appointments.