Department of Human Services
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Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP)

MATP provides Allegheny County residents, who are eligible and receiving Medical Assistance, non-emergency medical transportation to and from MA-billable, non-emergency medical services.

MA-billable services include both physical health services (doctor and dentist appointments, and trips to and from the pharmacy) and behavioral health services (mental health counseling, and drug and alcohol treatment and counseling).

Service Exclusions - MATP DOES NOT provide emergency or ambulance service, or transportation to sheltered workshops, day care programs, mental health social rehabilitation programs, WIC programs, nutrition programs, or VA Medical Centers.

Contact MATP, Monday through Friday,  for information, enrollment, scheduling and cancelling trips, and complaints.

By phone: Call toll-free, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., at 1-888-547-MATP (6287)
In person: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Human Services Building, First Floor, One Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, 15222

NOTE: MATP offices are closed on County-observed holidays. ACCESS service and direct reimbursements will be provided to MATP clients needing transportation on these dates.

pdf.gif MATP Brochure 

pdf.gif Ride for Free with MATP! flyer

MATP on HumanServices.net

MATP Eligibility

  • Must have a valid Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (MA) Card and be a resident of Allegheny County.
  • Medical Assistance eligibility must be verified according to Pennsylvania Department of Human Services guidelines.
  • MATP paperwork must be signed and returned before transportation services can begin.

Client-Friendly MATP Enrollment

All new applicants must call 1-888-547-MATP (6287) or visit the MATP office on the First Floor of the Human Services Building, One Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh 15222 to enroll. Enrollment is a three-step process:

  • MATP will verify the new applicant's MA eligibility and then complete the MATP Application (usually over the phone).
  • MATP will mail the completed Application to the home of the applicant for his/her signature.
  • The applicant signs all paperwork and returns it to the MATP Office.
  • NOTE: Clients must advise MATP immediately of any changes of address, telephone number, Pennsylvania Medical Assistance Card Issue Number, or Medical Assistance eligibility.

Scheduling transportation with MATP

Clients who want to ride ACCESS must call MATP to schedule their trip(s):

  • before 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
  • up to two weeks but no less than two workdays (Monday through Friday) in advance of the medical appointment. 
  • (NOTE: Appointments must be made on Thursday for a Monday appointment).
  • Clients must provide information regarding the destination and purpose of their medical trips.

  • Escorts -- If an escort is authorized to travel with a client, arrangements must be made at the time the trip is scheduled. MATP will authorize escorts only when the client is physically or behaviorally incapable of traveling alone or if the effect of the scheduled medical treatment is expected to cause temporary incapacity. Escorts must be at least 18 years of age.

Requests for next day or same day service for 'urgent care' are approved on a case-by-case basis. The primary care physician and/or Managed Care Organization may be contacted for verification of urgent need.

MATP Requirements

  • MATP is required by law to provide the least costly transportation available.
  • MATP is required to assign the client’s medical trip to public transportation, mileage reimbursement, or ACCESS shared-ride system at the discretion of MATP.
  • MATP will help determine the mode of transportation. The selection of transportation service is based upon:
    • The rider's physical and/or behavioral health condition.
    • The rider's health needs based on physicians’ recommendations.
    • Availability of public transportation between locations of origin and destination.

MATP does not fund trips of less than 1/4 mile unless the client is unable to walk the distance.

No-Cost Public Transportation (No out-of-pocket expenses)

MATP and Traveler’s Aid Society (TAS) are working together through neighborhood social service programs and medical facilities to give MATP clients and their eligible family members free bus tickets for their medical appointments.

Traveler's Aid also will send bus tickets to consumers in the mail.  Enrolled MATP consumers must call TAS at 412-281-5474 at least one week in advance of their medical appointment.  TAS will send the tickets in the mail to the consumer's home address along with a verification form to be signed by the medical facility.

Consumers must send the signed verification form back to TAS (stamped envelope provided) in order to continue receiving bus tickets for future appointments.

Public-Private Transportation

MATP provides after-the-fact reimbursement of transportation costs for car, bus and taxi fare. All clients must submit proof of their medical/pharmacy visit (preferably on letterhead) and original, unmodified proof of transportation cost (e.g. taxi receipt) to receive reimbursement. MATP verifies public transportation fares with Port Authority Transit (PAT). All clients should submit their trip verification within 15 workdays of the date of their trip in order to ensure prompt reimbursement. Reimbursements are honored when verified by MATP.

  • Public transportation is reimbursed for actual trip cost.
  • Mileage in private vehicles is reimbursed at $0.40 per mile.
  • Parking and tolls are reimbursed.

MATP Shared-Ride System (SRS)

  • SRS vehicles operate Monday through Sunday, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., year-round, including holidays.
  • Only clients and escorts (see Escorts under Scheduling, above) authorized by MATP are permitted on SRS vehicles.
  • MATP clients riding SRS have been authorized by their family physician through the Physician’s Verification Process or have attended the functional assessment and interview process conducted at the ACCESS program offices. 
  • A parent ,or an adult with parental authority, must accompany children up to 17 years of age on SRS vehicles.
  • Parents must furnish a car seat for children up to eight years of age.
  • Children 13 to 17 years of age may ride alone on SRS vehicles only if the parent or guardian has signed a consent form.
  • Shared ride vehicles are permitted to be 10 minutes early or 20 minutes late for their scheduled pick-up time. Share ride vehicles will only wait five minutes at a pick-up site.