How to Set Up Recurring Medicaid Rides for Dialysis, Chemo & Therapy

Patients with recurring medical appointments — dialysis three times a week, weekly chemotherapy, biweekly physical therapy — should not need to call a broker before every single trip. Standing orders solve this. A standing order is a pre-approved recurring ride schedule that dispatches a driver automatically for each appointment on your calendar. This guide explains exactly how to set one up through Illinois Medicaid.

What Is a Standing Order for Medicaid Transportation?

A standing order (also called a recurring trip authorization or permanent trip schedule) is a single request that covers all rides for a repeating appointment. Instead of calling your broker 3 times a week for dialysis, you call once, give them your full schedule, and they authorize every trip in advance.

Standing orders include:

• Pickup address and destination address
• Pickup time and return time for each appointment day
• Days of the week (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday for dialysis)
• Vehicle type (ambulatory, wheelchair, or stretcher)
• Duration (ongoing or a set number of weeks)
• Special requirements (oxygen, attendant, specific vehicle features)

Once the standing order is active, a driver arrives at your door on schedule without any additional action from you.

Who Qualifies for Standing Orders

Any Illinois Medicaid member with a documented recurring medical appointment qualifies for a standing order. The most common uses:

Dialysis Patients

Hemodialysis patients typically attend sessions 3 times per week. That is 12 to 13 trips per month and approximately 156 trips per year. Without a standing order, you would need to call the broker 156 separate times. Standing orders eliminate every one of those calls.

Dialysis sessions run on tight schedules — if you miss your chair time, the clinic may not have another opening that day. Reliable, on-time transportation is critical. Dream Care Rides assigns the same driver to dialysis standing orders whenever possible, so your driver knows your schedule, your pickup routine, and your facility's drop-off procedures. Learn more about our dialysis transportation service.

Chemotherapy and Radiation Patients

Cancer treatment schedules vary: weekly chemo infusions, daily radiation sessions for 5 to 7 weeks, or biweekly combination protocols. Many patients experience fatigue, nausea, and weakness after treatment, making self-transport dangerous. A standing order ensures a driver is waiting when you finish your session, regardless of how you feel.

For patients receiving treatment at major Chicago-area cancer centers, we provide cancer treatment transportation with drivers trained to assist post-treatment patients.

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Patients

Post-surgery rehab, stroke recovery, cardiac rehab, and occupational therapy often require 2 to 3 sessions per week for 6 to 12 weeks. Standing orders cover the entire course of treatment in one request. See our physical therapy transportation and stroke recovery transportation pages for details.

Behavioral Health and Counseling Patients

Weekly therapy sessions, psychiatric medication management appointments, and substance abuse counseling all qualify for standing orders under Medicaid NEMT.

Step-by-Step: How to Set Up a Standing Order

Step 1: Gather Your Appointment Schedule

Get the complete recurring schedule from your medical provider. You need:

• Exact days of the week
• Appointment start time
• Estimated end time (for return trip scheduling)
• Facility name and full address
• Start date and projected end date (or "ongoing")
• Doctor's name and phone number (broker may verify)

Step 2: Call Your MCO's Transportation Broker

Contact the broker assigned to your MCO. Tell them you need a standing order for recurring medical transportation. Have your Medicaid RIN ready.

Step 3: Specify Every Detail

Be precise. Ambiguity causes problems. State:

• Vehicle type: "I need a wheelchair-accessible van" (not just "a ride")
• Pickup time: "Pick me up at 7:15 AM" (not "sometime in the morning")
• Return trip: "I need pickup at the facility at 12:00 PM" or "Call me when ready and pick up within 30 minutes"
• Special needs: "I use a power wheelchair that weighs 350 lbs" or "I travel with a portable oxygen concentrator"

Step 4: Request a Specific Provider

You have the right to request a specific transportation provider. If you want Dream Care Rides, tell the broker: "I want Dream Care Rides as my provider." Alternatively, request your recurring ride schedule through our intake form and, if your trip is in our Medicaid service area, we will contact the broker on your behalf.

Step 5: Confirm the Authorization

The broker will provide a confirmation number or authorization ID. Write it down. This number covers all future trips under the standing order. If a driver ever questions your authorization, give them this number.

Managing Your Standing Order

Changing Your Schedule

If your appointment days or times change, call the broker to update the standing order. Most brokers need 48 hours to adjust. For Dream Care Rides patients, call (708) 505-6994 and we update it same-day.

Canceling a Single Trip

If you need to skip one appointment (holiday, illness, doctor rescheduled), call the broker or your provider at least 2 hours before the scheduled pickup. The standing order stays active — only that single trip is canceled.

Adding a New Appointment

If your doctor adds a new recurring appointment (e.g., you now need physical therapy in addition to dialysis), request a second standing order. You can have multiple standing orders active simultaneously.

Ending the Standing Order

When your treatment ends (e.g., you complete a 12-week PT program), call the broker to close the standing order. If you forget, the broker will continue dispatching drivers to an appointment that no longer exists.

Common Problems with Recurring Medicaid Rides

Problem: Different Driver Every Time

Brokers rotate drivers based on availability. For patients who benefit from driver consistency (dementia patients, anxious seniors, children), request a "preferred driver" assignment. Dream Care Rides assigns the same driver to all standing orders by default. Call (708) 505-6994 to set this up.

Problem: Late Pickups Causing Missed Chair Time

Dialysis clinics operate on strict schedules. A late pickup means you might lose your chair and miss the entire session. If lateness happens more than twice, report it to your MCO and request a provider change. Dream Care Rides dispatches drivers 15 minutes before scheduled pickup and maintains a 99% on-time rate.

Problem: Standing Order Expires Without Warning

Some brokers set standing orders for 90 or 180 days and require renewal. Mark the expiration date on your calendar. If your driver stops showing up, the standing order may have expired. Call the broker to renew.

Problem: Wrong Vehicle Type Assigned

If the broker sends a sedan when you need a wheelchair van, call immediately. Do not attempt to transfer to a vehicle that cannot safely accommodate your mobility device. The broker must dispatch the correct vehicle.

Problem: Return Trip Not Scheduled

Always confirm that the standing order includes both legs of the trip — the ride to the facility and the ride home. Some brokers default to one-way authorization. Explicitly request round-trip service.

Why Dialysis Patients Need Standing Orders the Most

Dialysis creates the highest transportation volume of any Medicaid-covered service. Consider the numbers:

Driving yourself after dialysis is dangerous. Blood pressure drops, muscle cramps, and fatigue are common post-treatment symptoms. A standing order ensures a driver is waiting at the dialysis center when your session ends, every single time, without requiring you to make a phone call while recovering.

Dream Care Rides is one of the most experienced dialysis transportation providers in the Chicago metro area. Our drivers know the intake and discharge routines at every major dialysis center in Cook County, Will County, and surrounding areas.

How Dream Care Rides Handles Recurring Medicaid Rides

We accept Medicaid only for trips starting within 6.5 miles of our Olympia Fields or Palatine bases — call (708) 505-6994 to check availability. For eligible trips, when you request recurring rides through Dream Care Rides, we manage the entire process:

1. Eligibility check: We verify your Medicaid coverage and MCO assignment
2. Broker coordination: We contact your broker, submit the standing order request, and obtain authorization
3. Driver assignment: We assign a primary driver and a backup driver to your schedule
4. Schedule management: Holiday closures, appointment changes, and cancellations are handled directly — one phone call to (708) 505-6994
5. Billing: We bill the broker. You pay zero.

Our headquarters is in Olympia Fields, IL, and we cover the entire Chicagoland area; Medicaid is accepted in select service areas. For Medicaid ride requests, visit our Medicaid rides page or book online.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to set up a standing order?

Most brokers process standing orders within 3 to 5 business days. If you go through Dream Care Rides, we typically have your schedule confirmed within 2 to 3 business days. Medicaid accepted in select service areas — call (708) 505-6994 to check availability.

Can I set up a standing order for different days each week?

Yes. Some treatment schedules are not the same every week (e.g., chemo on week 1 and 3, labs on week 2 and 4). The broker can set up a complex recurring pattern. Provide the full schedule in writing to avoid errors.

What happens if I go to the hospital and miss my standing order trips?

Call the broker or your provider to pause the standing order. When you are discharged, call again to resume. The standing order is not automatically canceled due to missed trips, but some brokers will pause it after 3 consecutive no-shows.

Can I have standing orders with two different providers?

The broker assigns one provider per standing order. If you have two separate standing orders (e.g., dialysis and therapy at different facilities), they may be assigned to the same or different providers based on vehicle availability and geography.

Does the driver wait during my dialysis session?

For round trips, Medicaid covers wait time or a return pickup. Most dialysis sessions last 3.5 to 4 hours, so the broker schedules a separate pickup rather than having the driver wait. Your standing order should specify both the drop-off time and the estimated pickup time for the return trip.

What if my dialysis center changes my schedule?

Call your broker or Dream Care Rides at (708) 505-6994 immediately. Schedule changes require updating the standing order. Give at least 48 hours' notice when possible.

Can I get Medicaid transportation to two appointments on the same day?

Yes. If you have dialysis in the morning and a doctor visit in the afternoon, the broker can authorize a multi-stop trip or two separate trips on the same day. Provide both appointment details when requesting.

What if I switch dialysis centers?

Notify the broker to update the destination address on your standing order. The pickup schedule usually stays the same. If the new center is significantly farther away, the broker may adjust the pickup time to account for longer travel.