Transportation Services

Getting to Your Appointment

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBSNM) contracts with ModivCareTM  for transportation services.* This includes rides to and from your doctor's office or a health care facility. You must be receiving covered services. ModivCare will make sure your medical needs are approved before arranging the ride.

Trips must be medically necessary. Examples include rides to:

  • Doctor appointments
  • Counseling
  • Dialysis

Transportation is for Turquoise Care members who have no other way to get to a doctor. This means you cannot walk, use mass transit, or drive yourself. If you can take yourself to the doctor, you must do so.

What is covered?

The following services are covered under your BCBSNM plan:

Learn How Your Plan Works

Review the Member Handbook for details about plan benefits.

FAQs

Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about this health plan.

Transportation Services – List of services covered by this plan.
Covered Service Prior Authorization Prior Notice to ModivCare Can I be reimbursed for this service?
Ride to routine appointment (arranged by ModivCare) No 3 working days up to 2 weeks No. ModivCare pays for the ride.
Ride to behavioral health appointment (arranged by ModivCare) No 3 working days up to 2 weeks No. ModivCare pays for the ride.
Mass transit No 4 working days No. ModivCare pays for the bus pass.
Mileage reimbursement (when not using ModivCare) Yes Between 14 business days and up to the day of the appointment Yes. You can be paid 50 cents per mile. You must meet the guidelines in order to be reimbursed.
Meals Yes 3 working days Yes. You can be paid up to $18 per day when you are away from home. You must meet the guidelines in order to be reimbursed.
Lodging Yes 3 working days Yes. You can be paid up to $58 per night on a weekday (in New Mexico). You can be paid up to $81 per night on a weekend or for out-of-state travel on any day. You must meet the guidelines in order to be reimbursed.

What is not covered?

You can only use this service for medical needs. BCBSNM does not cover rides:

  • For non-medical needs (examples: to go shopping or to visit a friend)
  • To go to a pharmacy or a medical supply store
  • To a provider who is more than 120 miles from where you live (without special authorization from BCBSNM)
  • To a provider who is outside our provider network (without special authorization from BCBSNM)

ModivCare App

If you don’t want to call ModivCare to set up a ride to your medical appointment, use the ModivCare App. This app lets you schedule a non-emergency ride from your smartphone or tablet. All you need to do is search “ModivCare App” on either Google Play® or the Apple App Store® to download. Make sure to have your email address handy to create an account.

With the ModivCare App you can:

  • Book a trip
  • Change or cancel a ride
  • Know where your driver is at in real time
  • Text or call the driver to make sure your ride is on time
  • Submit a trip mileage claim to get reimbursed
  • Contact support within the app to talk to a live agent
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ModivCare App

Search “ModivCare” in your app store and use it for all your ride needs.

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Call ModivCare

1-866-913-4342 
(TTY/TDD: 1-866-288-3133
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT, Monday-Friday. 
Closed holidays and weekends.

Call at least 3 days before you need a ride.

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Confirm Your Ride

Call or check your mobile app 3 days prior.

Call Ride Assist at 1-866-418-9829 if you have questions about a ride that you’ve already scheduled, or if you need to cancel your ride.

Please note that drivers can transport multiple members on the same ride. This should not add any more than 45 minutes to your travel time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Transportation Services

Review the FAQs to learn about requesting or changing a ride.

To learn more about transportation services, check the Member Handbook.

*Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico transportation services are administered by ModivCare Solutions, LLC.