Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation (NEAT) Frequently Asked Questions
What is non-emergency ambulance transportation (NEAT)?
Non-emergency ambulance transportation (NEAT) is transportation provided by ground or air ambulance to a Medicaid enrollee to and/or from a Medicaid covered service, carved-out services, or value-added benefit (VAB) when no other means of transportation is available and the enrollee’s condition is such that use of any other method of transportation is contraindicated or would make the enrollee susceptible to injury. The nature of the trip is not an emergency, but the enrollee requires the use of an ambulance.
What is a Certification of Ambulance Transportation form?
A Certification of Ambulance Transportation (CAT) form verifies the enrollee's medical condition that warrents the use of NEAT services.
Should an enrollee directly contact ambulance providers to schedule NEAT?
Enrollees should contact their managed care organization (MCO) to schedule NEAT services. The Louisiana Medicaid MCOs include the following:
- Aetna Better Health
- AmeriHealth Caritas of Louisiana
- Healthy Blue
- Humana Healthy Horizons
- Louisiana Healthcare Connections
- United Healthcare Community Plan
If an enrollee is eligible for Legacy Medicaid (Fee-For-Service Medicaid), the enrollee should contact the Fee-For-Service Medicaid broker, Verida, to schedule the transportation services. Contact information for scheduling transportation is located here.
Should a medical facility and/or a nursing facility contact the ambulance provider or the enrollee’s MCO when scheduling Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation (NEAT) services?
Medical facility staff and/or nursing facility staff may contact either the ambulance provider, the MCO’s transportation broker, or the fee-for-service (FFS) transportation broker. Medical facility staff and/or nursing facility staff may find contact information for scheduling transportation here.
If the medical facility staff and/or nursing facility staff chooses to contact an ambulance provider directly, they should complete the CAT form after scheduling NEAT services and present it to the ambulance personnel upon their arrival to transport the enrollee.
If the medical facility and/or nursing facility staff chooses to contact the MCO’s transportation broker or the FFS transportation broker they should submit the CAT form via fax or email. The CAT form is mandatory for reimbursement. The medical facility and/or nursing facility staff should submit the CAT form to the MCO’s transportation broker or the FFS transportation broker during the scheduling process.
Who can sign the Certification of Ambulance Transportation form?
The following medical service providers may sign the CAT form:
- Treating Physician (MD, DO, DDS)
- Physician Assistant (PA)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Director of Nursing (DON)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Why is the medical staff authorizing the NEAT services required to provide a National Provider Identifier (NPI) or a license number?
A National Provider Identifier (NPI) and/or a license number is a unique identifier used to determine the specific medical provider. Both the NPI number and the license number assist in identification of the authorized medical service provider.
Is the Certification of Ambulance Transportation (CAT) form required for Emergency Medical Transportation (EMT)?
No, it is not required.