NEMT Standing Orders in Chicago — What They Are and How to Set One Up
Last updated: March 23, 2026
A standing order for non-emergency medical transportation in Chicago is a one-time setup that covers all future recurring trips — no rebooking required before each appointment. If you or your family member has dialysis three times a week, physical therapy every Tuesday, or chemotherapy every other Friday, a standing order eliminates the repetitive scheduling and ensures a confirmed ride is waiting at the same time every session. Call Dream Care Rides at (708) 505-6994 to set up a standing order, or book online.
Who Needs a Standing Order for NEMT?
Standing orders are designed for patients with recurring medical appointments that happen on a predictable schedule. Any patient who visits the same facility on the same day(s) each week or month benefits from a standing order instead of booking individual trips every time. The most common standing order patients include:
| Treatment Type | Typical Frequency | Annual Trips (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Hemodialysis | 3x per week | 156 round trips |
| Chemotherapy | Weekly during cycles | ~52 round trips |
| Physical Therapy | 2–3x per week | 100–156 round trips |
| Radiation Therapy | 5x per week for 4–8 weeks | 20–40 round trips |
| Wound Care | 2–3x per week | 100–156 round trips |
| Mental Health Counseling | Weekly | 52 round trips |
For a dialysis patient making 156 round trips per year, booking each trip individually means 312 scheduling interactions annually. A standing order reduces that to one. The time savings alone is substantial, but the real benefit is reliability — the patient never misses a session because someone forgot to book the ride.
How to Set Up a Standing Order with Dream Care Rides — 6 Steps
Setting up a standing order with Dream Care Rides takes one phone call or online booking session. Here is the complete process:
- Gather your recurring appointment details: Collect the following for each recurring appointment: day(s) of the week, appointment time, facility name and address, estimated appointment duration, and your pickup address. Also note your mobility needs — ambulatory, wheelchair, or stretcher — and whether a companion will ride along.
- Contact Dream Care Rides: Call (708) 505-6994 or visit dreamcarerides.com/booking. Tell the booking coordinator that you want to set up a standing order for recurring medical transportation. Provide all appointment details gathered in step 1.
- Confirm vehicle type and service level: The booking coordinator will confirm the appropriate vehicle type (sedan, wheelchair-accessible van, or stretcher vehicle) and service level (curb-to-curb, door-to-door, or door-through-door). For elderly or mobility-impaired patients, door-through-door is recommended.
- Set pickup and return windows: Specify your preferred pickup time before the appointment and your expected ready time after the appointment. For treatments with variable end times like dialysis, you can arrange a will-call return where the facility calls the driver when the patient is ready.
- Provide payment information: Set up payment for the standing order. Dream Care Rides accepts credit cards, debit cards, ACH transfers, and invoicing for recurring schedules. Payment is processed per trip after each ride is completed. Family members can provide payment from any location.
- Receive confirmation and start riding: You will receive a confirmation with your standing order details including the schedule, vehicle type, pickup times, and estimated cost per trip. Your first ride is scheduled for the next occurrence on your appointment calendar. No further action is needed — rides are automatic from this point forward.
Ready to set up a standing order?
Handling Schedule Changes and Cancellations
Medical schedules are not static. Dialysis times shift when clinics adjust rotations. Physical therapy frequency changes as patients progress through recovery. Chemotherapy cycles have built-in breaks between rounds. A good standing order system handles all of these changes without requiring the patient to start over.
With Dream Care Rides, standing order modifications are handled with a single phone call to (708) 505-6994. Common changes include:
- Time change: If your appointment moves from 9 AM to 10 AM, the standing order pickup time is updated for all future trips.
- Frequency change: If your doctor increases physical therapy from twice weekly to three times weekly, the additional day is added to the standing order.
- Temporary pause: If you are hospitalized, traveling, or taking a treatment break, the standing order is paused and resumed when you are ready.
- Facility change: If you switch to a different dialysis center or medical office, the destination is updated on the standing order.
- Cancellation: Standing orders can be cancelled at any time with no penalty. Individual trips within a standing order can also be skipped without affecting the rest of the schedule.
There is no fee for modifying, pausing, or cancelling a standing order.
Standing Orders vs. Per-Trip Booking — When to Use Each
Not every patient needs a standing order. Here is a quick comparison to help you decide which approach fits your situation:
| Feature | Standing Order | Per-Trip Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Recurring appointments (weekly, biweekly, monthly) | One-time or irregular appointments |
| Booking effort | One-time setup | Book before each trip |
| Driver consistency | Same driver preferred | Varies by availability |
| Schedule changes | One call updates all future trips | Each trip managed individually |
| Missed ride risk | Very low — rides are automatic | Higher — depends on rebooking each time |
For patients using our dialysis transport checklist, a standing order is almost always the recommended approach due to the high frequency and medical urgency of dialysis appointments.
Private Pay vs. Medicaid Standing Orders
Both private pay and Medicaid NEMT offer some form of recurring trip scheduling, but the experience differs significantly:
- Private pay standing orders are set up directly with the provider. You choose your pickup time, vehicle type, and preferred driver. There is no reauthorization requirement, no broker intermediary, and no risk of your ride being reassigned. Changes are made with a single phone call and take effect immediately.
- Medicaid recurring trip authorization is coordinated through your MCO's transportation broker (MTM or Modivcare in Illinois). The broker schedules your recurring trips, but the assigned driver and vehicle may change from trip to trip. Recurring authorizations require periodic renewal, typically every 30 to 90 days, and are subject to broker scheduling constraints.
Many patients who start with Medicaid recurring trips switch to private pay standing orders because of the reliability, consistency, and control private pay provides. For a detailed comparison, visit the What Is NEMT? hub page.
Related Resources
External References
Frequently Asked Questions About NEMT Standing Orders
What is a standing order for NEMT?
A standing order for non-emergency medical transportation is a one-time booking arrangement that covers all future recurring trips on the same schedule. Instead of calling to book a ride before every appointment, you set up the standing order once and the provider automatically reserves your ride for each occurrence. It covers the day, time, pickup address, destination, vehicle type, and any special requirements like wheelchair access or companion seating.
How far in advance can I set up a standing order?
With Dream Care Rides, standing orders can be set up at any time and remain active indefinitely until you cancel or modify them. There is no expiration date. Most patients set up their standing order when they first begin a recurring treatment — for example, when a nephrologist prescribes a thrice-weekly dialysis schedule or when an oncologist starts a chemotherapy cycle. The standing order can start as soon as the next business day after setup.
Can I change the schedule on a standing order?
Yes, standing orders are fully flexible. If your appointment time changes, your treatment frequency increases or decreases, or you need to skip a week due to a holiday or vacation, you can modify the standing order with a single phone call to Dream Care Rides at (708) 505-6994. Changes take effect for the next scheduled trip. There is no fee for modifying or pausing a standing order.
Do I get the same driver every time with a standing order?
Dream Care Rides makes every effort to assign the same driver for standing order rides because consistency matters — especially for elderly patients and those with cognitive conditions. While we cannot guarantee the same driver for every single trip due to scheduling and availability, the majority of standing order patients see the same one or two drivers regularly. This familiarity builds trust and makes the experience less stressful for the patient.
Are standing orders available through Medicaid NEMT?
Medicaid transportation brokers in Illinois do offer recurring trip scheduling, but it is not identical to a private pay standing order. Medicaid recurring trips are subject to periodic reauthorization, may be assigned to different drivers and vehicles each time, and can be affected by broker scheduling changes. Private pay standing orders through Dream Care Rides offer guaranteed time slots, preferred driver assignment, and no reauthorization requirements.
How much does a standing order cost?
Standing orders at Dream Care Rides use the same per-trip rates as individual bookings, with recurring ride discounts applied automatically for patients who ride multiple times per week. Ambulatory sedan transport in the Chicago area starts at approximately $75 per trip, wheelchair transport at approximately $150, and stretcher transport at approximately $250. The exact rate depends on distance and wait time. Call (708) 505-6994 for a personalized quote with your recurring schedule.
Can a family member set up a standing order for someone else?
Yes, family members, caregivers, social workers, and healthcare facility staff can all set up standing orders on behalf of a patient. This is especially common for elderly patients whose children live in a different state and for patients with cognitive impairments who cannot manage their own scheduling. The person setting up the standing order provides patient details, appointment information, and payment, and the rides are then managed automatically.
Set up a standing order for your recurring medical appointments
One call. Rides covered for every future appointment. No rebooking needed.