L
Definition
A single, continuous segment of transportation from a specific pick-up location (origin) to a specific drop-off location (destination). A "trip" may consist of one or more legs.
Overview
Why it Matters
Billing and scheduling occur at the leg level. If a driver takes a member to an appointment and waits to take them home, that is often two billable legs (Outbound and Return), not one "trip" event.
How it Works
When a member requests a ride, the dispatch software generates a "Leg" for the outbound journey. If they need a return, a second "Leg" is generated. Each leg has its own unique status (e.g., "Picked Up," "Dropped Off," "Cancelled").
Code Comparison
Comparison: Leg vs. Trip
A Trip is the overarching request or order (e.g., "I need to go to the doctor and back"). A Leg is the individual execution of movement (e.g., "Leg 1: Home to Doctor"). A Round Trip consists of two legs.
Common Questions
- Merging data: Assuming "1 Trip" equals "1 Claim." (One trip often equals two claims/lines).
- Status errors: Marking a whole trip as "Complete" when only the first leg was finished.
- Assign unique IDs to every leg, not just every trip.
- Capture timestamps (arrive, pick-up, drop-off) for each leg independently.
Sources
Texas Health and Human Services NEMT Handbook (Section 16.4)