Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about taxi rides with Shudl? Search our frequently asked questions for your ride answer or ask a question below.
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Payment Options for my Taxi Rides
Can I schedule a ride with Shudl that is paid for by Medicaid?
Yes, Medicaid has a great program that allows members to get completely free transportation to and from their medical related needs including doctors appointments, walk-in appointments drug treatment classes and even trips to the pharmacy.
I don’t have Medicaid, will my insurance pay for rides with Shudl?
Maybe. We suggest contacting your insurance company and asking them that question. More and more insurance companies are starting to offer transportation as a benefit. We cannot bill insurance companies directly, but if your insurance company can send you a card to use for paying for transportation, we can accept any card that is connected to a major card network. (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc.)
Do you have any other options for free rides?
Yes! Shudl has a partnership with The United Way of Southeastern Idaho. Their program, dubbed “Ride United”, pays for taxi service for individuals who don’t has another option for getting around. The program is limited to a few participating locations and specific ride reasons. See the Ride United Section below for more information.
What if I just want to pay for a ride myself? Is that an option?
Of course! Shudl taxi drivers can accept cash or credit/debit. We primarily work in the Pocatello, ID area, but are happy to travel outside of the area if need be.
How to Schedule Taxi Rides
How to I schedule a ride paid for by Medicaid (MTM)?
Call MTM at 1 (877) 503-1261. Shudl cannot schedule rides paid for by Medicaid. If you would like to setup a ride paid for by Medicaid it must be scheduled through MTM, who has contracted with the state to schedule these rides. As an alternative, MTM does offer the ability to schedule rides online: https://mtm.mtmlink.net/#/
I just want to pay for the ride myself. How do I schedule taxi rides?
Give us a call. Our dispatch office is open 7am-7pm Monday - Friday. We can pre-schedule taxi rides (subject to availability) for other times but you must call within these hours. If you would like to schedule these rides online, fill out this form.
I have another insurance that covers transportation. How do I schedule taxi rides with Shudl?
Just give us a call. These rides are treated just the same as rides you are paying for yourself. Just use the card provided by your insurance to pay for the ride.
Taxi Rides through MTM
Who is MTM?
MTM, or Medical Transportation Management, is a broker who has partnered with The State of Idaho to handle it’s Medicaid Transportation Program. They act as a middle man between The State, transportation providers like Shudl and members like you. When you want to schedule a ride you contact MTM. MTM then turns around and finds a company like ourselves to complete the ride. You can learn more about them here: https://www.mtm-inc.net/idaho/members/
What options do I have for scheduling a ride with MTM?
You can call them at 1 (877) 503-1261 or use there online scheduling tool: https://mtm.mtmlink.net/#/.
What types of rides with Medicaid/MTM pay for?
Medicaid will pay for rides to and from medical related needs. That would include, doctors appointments, walk-in appointments, drug treatment classes and even trips to the pharmacy.
I want to ride with Shudl. Can I request that when I call MTM?
Yes! And no. MTM is supposed to make every effort to schedule your ride with whatever transportation provider you prefer. However, Idaho is not what they refer to as a a ride-of-choice state, meaning that their contract with the state does not require that they fulfill these requests. To make things easier for themselves or because they are unaware of the details of the policy, dispatchers often reply “No” when this question is asked. We recommend politely asking to speak to a supervisor, asking the dispatcher to call us and ask if we are available for the ride, or simply calling again to get another dispatcher. If you continue to have problems please let us know. Sometimes you have to speak their language in order to get things done.
Will Medicaid pay for rides outside of the city I live in?
Yes! There is no limit to the distance that you can schedule a ride for. However, longer rides do require additional steps that it is important to be aware of. Taxi rides less than 200 miles do not require these extra steps. Anything over 200 miles requires prior authorization from your referring doctor and can take some time to get approved. Please let us know if this is your situation and we can assist you with any extra steps.
MTM doesn’t always do the best job of getting this form to your doctor and your doctor may not know that they need to assist you with filling out this form. Here is the form that they need to fill out: Distance Verification Form. We suggest speaking with your doctor about the form directly rather than letting MTM do it on your behalf.
Note: We suggest beginning to schedule long distance rides at least 2 weeks in advance and checking in with MTM regularly to ensure that everything is still on track.
How far in advance do I need to schedule a ride paid for by Medicaid?
48 hours, with exceptions. MTM and The State of Idaho require that you schedule rides at least 48 hours in advance in order to ensure that they have ample time to find a ride for you. Exceptions to that rule include rides to urgent care, rides to the pharmacy and rides home from the doctor when you have become stranded.
Are there any exceptions to MTM’s 48 hour rule?
Yes! MTM will excuse this rule for rides to urgent care, rides to the pharmacy and rides home from the doctor when you have become stranded.
Can Shudl Call MTM on my behalf?
No. MTM has very strict rules about transportation providers making changes on behalf of riders. We unfortunately cannot call MTM for you.
When is MTM dispatch open?
24/7. MTM is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Taxi Rides through Ride United
What is Ride United?
Ride United is a program started by the United Way. Here in Pocatello, the United Way of Southeastern Idaho has partnered with Shudl to provide transportation to those in need. The relatively new program is currently limited to the patients/participants of Ride United partners. Those partners are The Pocatello Free Clinic, The Southeast Idaho Behavioral Crisis Center, Center for Hope Pocatello and Health West City Center. Each partner has their own rules for who they schedule rides for, but in general the program is supposed to provide transportation for those in need to/from anything that has a positive impact on the health.
Can I get a ride paid for by Ride United?
Maybe. That would be up to one of the program partners. Currently, that includes The Pocatello Free Clinic, the Southeast Idaho Behavioral Crisis Center, Center For Hope Pocatello and Health West City Center. Individuals can only receive a ride by scheduling it through one of these partners. They each have their own rules for who they schedule rides for, but in general the program is to provide transportation to/from anything that has a positive impact on your health.
How do I schedule a ride paid for by Ride United?
Contact one of the Ride United partners. If you are a participant/patient at one of the following places, then you may be eligible to receive rides to/from locations that have a positive impact on your health.
Location |
Phone # |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
The Pocatello Free Clinic |
||
The Southeast Idaho Behavioral Crisis Center |
Cannot schedule rides unless you are currently in the crisis center. |
|
Center For Hope - Pocatello |
||
Health West City Center |
What types of rides will Ride United Pay for?
Each partner has their own rules, but in general the program pays for rides to/from any location that has a positive impact on your health whether it be physical, mental, emotional, etc. That would include not only doctor’s appointments, but even rides to the grocery store, the gym, the pharmacy the vet, work, an interview, etc.
Can I just call Shudl to schedule a ride paid for by Ride United?
No. At this time, the only way to schedule a ride paid for by the Ride United Program is to do so through one of the Ride United partners: The Pocatello Free Clinic, The Southeast Idaho Behavioral Crisis Center, Center for Hope Pocatello, or Health West City Center.
How far in advance do I need to schedule a ride paid for by Ride United?
Anytime. There are currently no limitations on how far in advance you must call. However, we highly recommend scheduling your ride as early as you can to ensure that a time slot is reserved just for you. Our schedule can fill up pretty fast.
Taxi Rides Paid for by You
How far in advance do I need to schedule taxi rides with Shudl?
Anytime. There are currently no limitations on how far in advance you must call. However, we highly recommend scheduling your ride as early as you can to ensure that a time slot is reserved just for you. Our schedule can fill up pretty fast.
How much does a taxi ride cost?
Ride costs vary based on time and distance. They start at just $9.99 and we guarantee that anything less than 2 miles will cost $9.99. You can get an instant quote using our Ride Calculator.
Does Shudl offer any discounts?
Yes! Shudl has now started a membership called ShudlPass. Pro Members receive an automatic 10% discount on all rides.
ShudlPass, a Taxi Membership
What is ShudlPass?
ShudlPass is Shudl’s new membership. Anyone who has ever received a ride is automatically a member and can request access to schedule taxi rides online and setup billing preferences. Pro Members get a 10% discount on all rides and gain access to discounts at local businesses dubbed “Shudl Destinations”.
How much does ShudlPass cost?
ShudlPass is free! You can create a pro membership and gain access to additional benefits for $10 per month.
What benefits do I get with a free ShudlPass membership?
Free members can request access to online scheduling, automated billing and can set up recurring rides.
What benefits do I get with a pro ShudlPass membership?
Pro members get all the benefits of a free membership plus a 10% discount on all rides and discounts at local businesses.
How do I set up automated billing?
Give us a call at (208) 244-5196. For security purposes, you cannot currently add payment methods to your account online.
How do I get access to schedule my taxi rides online?
Fill out this form. We will create an account for you and email you a welcome link. It can take up to 24 hours to receive your welcome email. If you are looking to schedule a ride immediately, please call us at (208) 244-5196.
Is there a tutorial for using the online ride scheduling system?
Yes. Click here.
What businesses can I get a discount at?
The discounts/promotions will change regularly. Each business will have the opportunity to update their promotion or discount as often as they want. You can view a current list here.
How do I get a discount at a partner business?
Getting a ride to or from one of the ShudlDestination establishments gets you the opportunity for a discount. When you finish the ride, your driver will give you a chip. (It’s a poker chip with our logo on it.) This chip can be turned in to any of the partner locations at any time you wish. You do not have to use it at the time of your ride or at the same location you got the ride to/from.
ShudlDestinations, a Business Membership
What is ShudlDestinations?
ShudlDestinations is Shudl’s new business membership. Shudl is looking for partners to join starting at no cost to the business. Businesses who join gain access to our ride scheduling software and can advertise their business to our riders. The idea is to enhance the business of each partner by pushing new business towards them.
How much does ShudlDestinations cost?
ShudlDestinations is free! You can create a pro account and gain access to additional benefits for $100 per month.
What benefits do I get as a free member?
Free members get access to our online scheduling software, can setup ride invoicing, can request recurring rides, can create offers for ShudlPass Pro members and can advertise to Shudl riders (at additional costs).
What benefits do I get as a pro member?
Pro members get everything from a free membership and a 10% discount all the rides they schedule, can create offers for any Shudl rider (not just pro members), get premium placement of their offers and they get a discount on additional advertising opportunities.
How do I set up ride invoicing?
Give us a call at (208) 244-5196.
How do I get access to schedule rides online?
Filling out the form below will get the process started, but once we receive your request, we will reach out to get you and your staff trained on using the online scheduling tool.
Is there a tutorial for using the online ride scheduling system?
Yes. Click here.
Why would my business want to setup rides for Shudl? Aren’t we just doing the work for you?
Not only does it deepen your relationship to your customers and thus makes you more money, but we also give you an opportunity to make some additional money in exchange for scheduling each ride. We want to create scenarios where you schedule and take payment for rides giving you the opportunity to charge the rider whatever you want.
Here’s an example: Sally is at your bar and needs a ride home. You collect the necessary information from her and schedule a ride. You tell her that she owes you $12.50 for the ride and pays you right there. Then we complete the ride and charge your business at a later date at a lower amount ($10.00).
We will even provide you with a tool that will automatically calculate those costs for you. All you would have to do is type in an addresses.
How do I add/update an offer?
Simply fill out this form.
How will my offer reach potential customers?
Your offer will be placed in the Benefits section of the ShudlPass page on our website. This will be the main destination for riders looking to discover what offers are currently available to them. We will then do the following to get the word out:
- A weekly email sent to ShudlPass members. The email will include a link to check current offers.
- A weekly text sent to ShudlPass members. The text will include a link to check current offers.
- Ad ad will be run on the digital advertising screens found inside of each Shudl vehicle. The ad will direct individuals to visit the Shudl website.
In addition to the free options above ShudlDestinations members will be able to purchase the following options (Pro members at a discounted rate):
- A special mention in the weekly email.
- An extra text sent at your specified time.
- Ad space on the Homepage of our website.
- Ad space on the digital screens inside of our vehicles.
- Ad space on the exterior of our vehicles.
Shudl’s Community Calendar
What is the community calendar?
The community calendar is simply a place to post community events. Businesses or private parties can submit a request to have an event added to the calendar and website visitors can subscribe to a weekly newsletter about upcoming events. It’s a simple and completely free way to get the word out about an event.
How do I request that an event be added to the calendar?
Simply fill out this form.