Ambulance transportation resource
How to Request Non-Emergency Ambulance Transport in Houston
A non-emergency ambulance request is a scheduled or planned transport, such as a move between facilities, a trip home after a hospital stay, or a ride to a medical appointment. This guide explains what to have ready, what dispatch will ask, and how to avoid delays. Whether ambulance transportation is medically necessary or covered by insurance depends on the individual circumstances and payer requirements. If someone needs immediate emergency help, call 911.
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Non-emergency transport versus calling 911
Call 911 for any emergency where a person needs help right now. Non-emergency ambulance transportation is for planned trips, where the request is made ahead of time and the transport is coordinated around a pickup time and destination.
If you are unsure which applies, describe the situation to a licensed clinician or use the emergency system. Do not use a scheduled transport request for an emergency.
Who can make a request?
Requests commonly come from hospital case managers, discharge planners, skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility staff, physicians’ offices, and patients or family members. The person making the request does not need to know every detail; dispatch will ask for what it needs.
Facilities usually have the clearest picture of the transport and can share the pickup unit, room, and contact person, which speeds up scheduling.
What to have ready before you call
Having these details ready helps dispatch schedule the transport accurately. Please do not send diagnoses or medical records through the website form; dispatch will tell you how to share anything else.
Pickup location
The full address, building, floor or unit, and a contact person at the pickup location.
Destination
The full destination address and, for a facility, the receiving unit or department.
Date and time
The requested date, pickup time, and any appointment or admission time the transport needs to meet.
Requested service level
BLS, ALS, or MICU if the referring team has identified one. If it is not known, say so.
Contact information
A phone number for the requester and, when different, for the pickup and receiving locations.
How the request works
The process is straightforward. Call Preferred EMS dispatch at (713) 791-9000 or use the online request form. Dispatch confirms the details, coordinates the requested service level, and lets you know the planned timing, subject to service availability.
Contact dispatch
Call (713) 791-9000 or submit the online request form with the pickup, destination, and timing.
Confirm the details
Dispatch reviews the request with you and asks for anything that is missing.
Coordinate the service level
Dispatch coordinates the requested BLS, ALS, or MICU service based on what the referring team requests.
Plan the pickup
Dispatch shares the planned timing so the pickup location can have the patient and paperwork ready.
Timing and planning ahead
Houston traffic, distance, and hospital discharge timing can all affect a transport. Requesting as early as you can, ideally the day before, gives dispatch more room to schedule around them. Same-day requests are possible depending on availability.
Trips across Greater Houston, or longer trips out of the area, may take more planning, so share the destination early.
Insurance and Medicare
Coverage rules differ by payer, and a diagnosis alone does not establish that ambulance transportation is covered or medically necessary. For Medicare, ambulance coverage has specific requirements. See our resources on Medicare documentation for more detail, or speak with the patient’s payer.
Related Preferred EMS services and resources
Frequently asked questions
How do I request non-emergency ambulance transport in Houston?
Call Preferred EMS dispatch at (713) 791-9000 or submit the online request form with the pickup location, destination, requested date and time, and contact information.
How far ahead should I request transport?
Earlier is better, ideally the day before. Same-day requests may be possible depending on availability.
Is dispatch available at night and on weekends?
Yes. Preferred EMS dispatch is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Should I put medical details in the online form?
No. Share only the pickup, destination, timing, and contact details. Dispatch will explain how to share anything else.
Does insurance cover non-emergency ambulance transport?
It depends on the patient’s circumstances and the payer’s requirements. Speak with the patient’s payer or see our billing information.