About Us

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS)

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, or HFS, administers and funds, in part or in full, Medicaid and other Medical Assistance Programs providing comprehensive health coverage to over 2.7 million qualified adults and children of Illinois.

The detailed information regarding these programs can be obtained on the department’s website at http://www.illinois.gov/hfs/Pages/default.aspx.

The Non-Emergency Transportation Services Prior Authorization Program (NETSPAP)

HFS allows for the provision of transportation services of certain Medicaid Participants to their qualified non-emergency medical appointments. In order to ensure these Non-Emergency Transportation Services meet federal guidelines and that reimbursement for these services is free of waste, fraud and abuse, HFS created the NETSPAP; the program was implemented in Cook County in 2001 and statewide in 2004. Since then, the NETSPAP has resulted in multimillion-dollar savings for the State of Illinois.

First Transit

HFS has contracted First Transit to help them manage the NETSPAP program. First Transit is not a transportation provider. First Transit receives your requests for transportation and then determines if they can be approved or if they have to be denied based on the rules given by HFS. For example, they have to review that you have Medicaid eligibility, verify that you have a scheduled appointment, and that you are going for a service that is covered by Medicaid. This process may take a few days so it is always a good idea to submit your request at least a week before your appointment. If your request is approved, you can arrange your trip with a transportation company that’s enrolled in the program.

Please note: First Transit is not involved in the process of enrolling providers or processing reimbursement for their services.

• For assistance with enrolling with HFS, review the links here or contact:

Healthcare and Family Services  – IMPACT Provider Enrollment Services

Post Office Box 19114, Springfield, IL 62794-9114

Phone: (877) 782-5565,   Email: hfs.PPU@illinois.gov

• Provider handbooks detailing the policies, procedures for all providers can be found here. We encourage all Medical and Non-Emergency Transportation Providers to review the Handbook for Providers of Medical Services – Chapter 100 and the Handbook for Providers of Transportation Services – Chapter T-200.

• For assistance with billing questions or concerns, providers may contact the Healthcare and Family Services Billing Department at (877) 782-5565.