5-018.02 Transportation Definitions

Common Carrier means any person who transports passengers by motor vehicle for hire and is licensed as such with the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Department means the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as established by the Health and Human Services Act (Laws 2007, LB296).

Department staff means employees of the Department of Health and Human Services or contractors of the Department of Health and Human Services assigned those responsibilities.

Escort Services means an attendant or caregiver accompanying a minor or persons who are physically, mentally, or developmentally disabled and unable to travel or wait without assistance or supervision.  

Exempt Provider means carriers exempted from Public Service Commission licensure by law including those that:  

1. Transport for hire persons who are aged and their spouses and dependents under a contract with a municipality or county;

2. Are owned and operated by a nonprofit organization which has been exempted from the payment of federal income taxes as provided by Section 501(c)(4), Internal Revenue Code, and transporting solely those persons over age 60, their spouses and dependents, and/or persons experiencing disabilities;

3. Are operated by a municipality or county as authorized by law in the transportation of the persons who are aged;

4. Are operated by a governmental subdivision or a qualified public purpose organization having motor vehicles with a seating capacity of 20 or less and are engaged in the transportation of passengers in the state;

5. Are engaged in the transportation of passengers and are operated by a transit authority created under and acting pursuant to the laws of the State of Nebraska; and

6. Provide escort service under contract with the Department of Health and Human Services or with any agency organized under the Nebraska Community Aging Services Act.

Exempt Providers include area agencies on aging (AAA), handi-bus services, city or county-operated transportation services, Rural Public Transportation Systems, child care, medical escort providers, Assisted Living Facilities and Adult Day Care Centers.

Individual Provider means a person who is not in the business of providing transportation for hire; for example, a friend, neighbor, or non-legally responsible relative.  

Medical Escort means an attendant or caregiver accompanying a minor or persons who are physically, mentally, or developmentally disabled and unable to travel or wait without assistance or supervision to receive a Nebraska Medicaid coverable service.  

Nebraska Medicaid Coverable Services means a medical service that could be covered by the Nebraska Medical Assistance Program (NMAP) as specified in the Nebraska Administrative Code (NAC) Title 471 (see 474-000-503).

It is the service which must be Medicaid coverable, not necessarily the provider of the service. For example, a physician visit (coverable) at a Veteran’s Administration Hospital (not a Medicaid provider) would be coverable; immunizations (coverable) provided in a free clinic (not billable to Medicaid) would be coverable.  If the Medicaid program sets limits on the amount of services/items covered, but the type is coverable, all transportation to that type is coverable.

Public, Contracted Transportation means public transportation such as a taxi, bus, train, or plane.

Tariff means the geographic and rate parameters of operation assigned to a particular carrier by the Public Service Commission.

Transportation/Escort Service for Families means service which enables:

1. Children to travel to:

a. Child care;

b. Health related treatment or care; or

c. Department or other community resource to receive services as a part of a child protective services safety plan and/or case plan;

2. Parents or usual caregivers to travel to:

a. Health services;

b. Department or a community resource to receive services as a part of a child protective services safety plan and/or case plan; or

c. Visit a hospitalized child included in the family unit or in foster care; and

       Note:  This is a transportation service only.

3. Biological parents or usual caregivers with children in foster care to receive services directed toward returning the child home.

{8/20/07}