Last updated 2026-07-25
TL;DR
LogistiCare rebranded to Modivcare in 2019 and still manages non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) benefits for state Medicaid agencies and health plans nationwide. To haul Medicaid riders you enroll as a Medicaid transportation provider with your state, then apply separately as a transportation network provider with Modivcare (or whichever broker holds that state's contract). No broker guarantees acceptance, and requirements vary by state.
What is LogistiCare, and is it still around?
LogistiCare Solutions was one of the largest non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) brokers in the country, managing ride benefits for state Medicaid programs and managed care plans. In 2019 the company changed its name to Modivcare, after its parent company reorganized under that brand. If you're searching "LogistiCare" today, you're almost certainly looking for Modivcare. The underlying contracts, provider portal, and much of the operational structure carried over. Modivcare is not a government agency. It's a private company that states and health plans hire, under a competitively bid contract, to coordinate rides for Medicaid members who need transportation to medical appointments but don't need an ambulance. Modivcare operates in dozens of states, though the specific counties and lines of business it manages change as contracts turn over. Other major brokers doing similar work include MTM, Access2Care, and SafeRide Health. A practical point that trips up new owner-operators: contracting with Modivcare doesn't automatically mean you're a Medicaid provider, and being a Medicaid provider doesn't automatically get you Modivcare trips. These are two separate applications, two separate sets of paperwork, and sometimes two separate insurance minimums. You need both if a broker holds the transportation contract in your state, which is the case in most states now. For background on how the broker model works across companies, see nemt and medical transportation.
What is non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT)?
Non-emergency medical transportation is scheduled transport for people who need to get to a medical appointment, dialysis, physical therapy, or a pharmacy pickup, but don't need an ambulance or emergency response. Vehicles range from ambulatory sedans to wheelchair-accessible vans to stretcher vans, depending on the rider's needs. Federal Medicaid rules require states to make sure eligible people can get to and from covered services when they have no other means of transportation. The regulation at 42 CFR 431.53 says states must "ensure necessary transportation for beneficiaries to and from providers" and may do this "by contract with a broker" [1]. That single sentence is why the broker model exists in most states. It's a federally sanctioned option, not a workaround. NEMT is different from ambulance transport in both funding and vehicle type. Ambulances are billed as an emergency or medically necessary transport service, often coded and reimbursed separately, and require licensed EMTs or paramedics. NEMT vehicles are non-emergency, don't provide clinical care en route beyond basic assistance, and drivers typically need a passenger endorsement, a clean background check, and CPR/first aid rather than EMT certification. Confirm your state's exact driver and vehicle requirements with your state Medicaid transportation unit, since they vary widely. For a broader look at scope and definitions, see what is non emergency medical transportation and nemt transportation.
Does Medicaid cover ambulance rides?
Yes. Medicaid covers ambulance transportation when it's medically necessary, but the coverage sits under a different benefit than NEMT. Medicaid.gov describes "Non-Emergency Medical Transportation" as a distinct benefit from ambulance services, and states set their own medical necessity criteria and prior authorization rules for both [2]. Ambulance coverage generally requires that other means of transportation would endanger the person's health, per federal guidance on medical necessity for ambulance services. Practically, that means a Medicaid beneficiary who can safely ride in a wheelchair van or sedan won't qualify for an ambulance trip just for convenience. If you're building a wheelchair-van business, you're aiming at the NEMT side of the program, not ambulance transport, and you won't need EMT-level licensure for it. Each state Medicaid agency publishes its own ambulance and NEMT coverage policy, often in a provider manual or transportation services chapter. Confirm the specifics with your state Medicaid transportation unit before assuming a rider's trip qualifies for one benefit or the other.
Does Medicare cover medical transportation?
Original Medicare covers ambulance transportation under Medicare Part B when other transportation would endanger the beneficiary's health, and it pays a portion after the Part B deductible is met [3]. Medicare.gov states plainly that ambulance services are covered "only when other transportation could endanger your health" and that the beneficiary typically pays 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the deductible [3]. Routine non-emergency medical transportation, the kind wheelchair-van owner-operators provide, is generally not a covered Original Medicare benefit. Some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans offer supplemental NEMT benefits as an extra, but that varies plan by plan and is arranged through the individual plan's transportation vendor, not through CMS directly. This distinction matters for your business plan. If your target riders are dual-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, their NEMT trips will typically route through the Medicaid transportation benefit (and its broker) rather than Medicare. Don't count on Medicare Advantage supplemental rides as a primary revenue source. Treat any such contracts as a bonus if they materialize, not a baseline.
How do you start a medical transportation business?
Starting a non-emergency medical transportation business generally means, in rough order: forming a business entity, securing the right vehicle and insurance, getting any required state or local operating authority, enrolling as a Medicaid transportation provider in your state, and then applying to become a network provider with the broker(s) operating in your area. Most states require an NEMT provider to hold commercial auto insurance with higher liability limits than a typical personal policy, sometimes $1 million combined single limit or more, though the exact figure is set by your state Medicaid agency or the broker's contract, so confirm the number before you shop for a policy. You'll also usually need a business license, an EIN, and depending on your state, a Certificate of Need, a passenger carrier permit, or a for-hire vehicle permit from a state transportation department. Background checks and drug testing are close to universal requirements for drivers, often modeled on federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration standards even when the vehicles themselves fall under a lower weight class than what triggers full FMCSA jurisdiction. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets its core safety rules for commercial motor vehicles at 49 CFR Part 390, which defines the vehicle weight and passenger thresholds that pull a carrier into federal jurisdiction [4]. If your vehicles are under 10,001 pounds GVWR and you're not crossing state lines commercially in a way that triggers federal motor carrier rules, state-level rules will usually govern instead. Confirm classification with your state's department of transportation. A realistic sequencing mistake to avoid: don't buy your vehicle and then find out your state requires a Certificate of Need or a specific inspection before licensing. Call your state Medicaid transportation unit first and ask what the enrollment packet requires, then shop for the van. For state-by-state specifics, see non emergency medical transportation services.
How do you start an NEMT business, step by step?
Here's a working sequence based on what most state enrollment packets and broker credentialing checklists ask for, though your state will have its own order and exceptions. 1. Form your business entity (LLC is most common) and get an EIN from the IRS. 2. Get commercial auto insurance meeting your state's or broker's minimum liability limits, before you register a vehicle for hire. 3. Buy or lease a wheelchair-accessible van that meets ADA and state inspection standards, and get it inspected if your state requires a pre-enrollment vehicle inspection. 4. Apply for any state-level operating authority (passenger carrier permit, Certificate of Need, or similar), if your state requires one. 5. Enroll as a Medicaid provider through your state's Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) portal or paper application, which usually requires an NPI number even for transportation-only providers in many states. 6. Apply separately to the broker(s) contracted in your service area (Modivcare, MTM, Access2Care, SafeRide, or others), submitting driver files, vehicle documentation, and insurance certificates. 7. Complete any required driver training, background checks, and drug screening the broker or state specifies. 8. Wait for credentialing decisions from both the state and the broker; timelines commonly run from a few weeks to a few months, and neither process guarantees approval. No broker or state guarantees enrollment, and both can deny or delay an application for incomplete paperwork, insurance gaps, or capacity limits in your service area. Building the paperwork correctly the first time is usually the biggest lever you have over how long this takes.
How do you start a medical transportation business with one van?
You can start with a single wheelchair van, and plenty of owner-operators do exactly that, but a one-van operation has less room for error if that vehicle breaks down or is out for inspection. Plan for backup coverage, even informally, before you commit to trip volume with a broker. With one van, your practical priorities are: get the vehicle right (a properly converted wheelchair-accessible van with a certified lift or ramp, not a DIY conversion), get insurance right (confirm the exact liability minimum with your state and broker before buying a policy, since it's often higher than standard commercial auto), and get your paperwork right the first time, since resubmissions cost weeks. Many states and brokers don't set a minimum fleet size to enroll, but some broker contracts do favor providers who can guarantee coverage across shifts or geography, which a single van struggles to do. Ask your target broker directly whether solo, one-van operators are credentialed in your service area, since this varies by broker and by region within a state. Don't skip the vehicle inspection and equipment side. See vehicles-and-equipment content elsewhere on this site for lift certification and ADA compliance basics before you buy.
How does Medicaid NEMT provider enrollment actually work?
State Medicaid transportation provider enrollment is separate from broker credentialing, and both matter. Federal rule requires states to ensure NEMT access for beneficiaries who have no other transportation, per 42 CFR 431.53, but each state decides how to implement that, including whether it uses a broker, and what its own provider enrollment application looks like [1]. Most states run enrollment through their Medicaid Management Information System, often the same portal used by medical providers, and transportation providers apply through a transportation-specific track within it. Expect to submit business formation documents, an EIN, proof of insurance, vehicle registrations, driver rosters with background check results, and sometimes a site visit or vehicle inspection before the state issues a Medicaid provider number. Once you have a state Medicaid provider number, that alone usually doesn't put trips on your schedule. In states where a broker holds the transportation contract, the broker runs its own network credentialing process on top of state enrollment, and it's the broker's dispatch system, not the state, that actually assigns rides to you day to day. Rules, forms, and timelines differ by state, so confirm current requirements directly with your state Medicaid transportation unit before you assume last year's process still applies.
How does broker credentialing work with Modivcare, MTM, Access2Care, or SafeRide?
Each broker runs its own provider network application, typically covering company formation documents, vehicle lists with photos and inspection certificates, driver rosters with background checks and training records, and certificates of insurance naming the broker as an additional insured or certificate holder, depending on the contract. Brokers periodically open and close their networks to new providers depending on rider demand and existing capacity in a given county or zip code, so "apply and wait" is a normal part of the process, not a sign you did something wrong. If a broker's network is closed in your area, ask when they expect to reopen it and whether a waitlist exists. Insurance requirements can differ meaningfully between brokers even within the same state, since the broker's contract with the state sets its own floor, which can be higher than the state Medicaid enrollment minimum. Get the broker's specific insurance certificate requirements in writing before you renew or shop your policy, since generic commercial auto coverage often doesn't satisfy broker-specific limits or endorsements. No broker guarantees you'll be accepted into its network or that acceptance leads to a set amount of trip volume. Capacity, geography, and the broker's existing provider base all factor into how much work actually comes your way. For more on state-specific rules that intersect with broker requirements, see non emergency medical transportation and emergency medical transport for how ambulance-level services are handled separately.
Modivcare vs. MTM vs. Access2Care vs. SafeRide: what's different?
| Modivcare | Largest NEMT broker footprint nationally, formerly LogistiCare | Which counties/lines of business it holds in your state right now | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTM (Medical Transportation Management) | Large multi-state broker, also runs mobility management programs | Current state contracts and insurance minimums for your region | |
| Access2Care | Regional and state-specific contracts, often tied to specific health plans | Whether it holds the contract for Medicaid fee-for-service or a specific MCO | |
| SafeRide Health | Newer entrant, works with health plans and rideshare-style dispatch models | Vehicle type requirements, since some contracts lean toward ambulatory/rideshare | Contracts change hands. A broker holding your state's contract this year may lose the rebid next cycle, so don't assume today's broker landscape will be identical in three years. Track your state Medicaid transportation unit's bulletins for contract award announcements. |
All four companies do the same basic job: they hold a state or health plan's NEMT brokerage contract and manage a network of transportation providers to fulfill rides. But their footprints, technology, and provider requirements differ enough that a single state can have more than one broker operating different contracts (say, Medicaid fee-for-service versus a specific managed care plan). | Broker | Known for | What to confirm before applying |
What does credentialing actually cost, and how long does it take?
There's no single national number for NEMT startup or credentialing cost, because insurance minimums, permit fees, vehicle inspection fees, and broker application requirements all vary by state and broker. Expect real costs in a few buckets: business formation and licensing fees (often in the low hundreds of dollars), commercial auto insurance (commonly a much larger annual cost than personal auto coverage, driven by the higher liability limits states and brokers require), vehicle purchase or conversion, and driver background checks and training. Timelines for state Medicaid enrollment plus broker credentialing commonly run anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on how complete your first submission is and how backed up the state or broker's review queue happens to be. Missing insurance documentation, incomplete driver files, and vehicle inspection gaps are the most common reasons applications stall. One honest way to shorten the process: build every document to the strictest likely standard before you submit, rather than the minimum you think might work, since resubmission cycles (waiting for a rejection, fixing it, resubmitting, waiting again) eat more calendar time than getting it right once. Some owner-operators put together their own state-and-broker paperwork packet from scratch; others use a template system like RideCredential's $199 one-time Launch Kit Builder to organize the state Medicaid and broker application documents in one pass. Either way, nothing replaces confirming current requirements directly with your state Medicaid transportation unit and your target broker, since forms and minimums change.
What vehicle and driver requirements should you expect?
Wheelchair-accessible vans need a certified lift or ramp system, functioning wheelchair securements (typically four-point tie-downs plus an occupant seatbelt), and regular preventive maintenance records that a broker or state inspector can review. States often require annual or semi-annual vehicle inspections specific to NEMT vehicles, separate from standard state vehicle registration inspections. Driver requirements commonly include a valid driver's license (sometimes with a passenger endorsement depending on vehicle size and state law), a clean motor vehicle record, a criminal background check, drug and alcohol screening, and CPR/First Aid certification. Some states or brokers also require defensive driving courses or NEMT-specific training modules before a driver can be added to your roster. None of this is uniform nationally. A passenger endorsement requirement, for instance, generally kicks in based on vehicle seating capacity thresholds that vary by state commercial driver's license rules, so a 5-passenger wheelchair van may not trigger the same requirement as a 10-passenger van. Federal commercial driver's license rules at 49 CFR 383.91 set the baseline vehicle classes requiring a CDL, including passenger vehicle thresholds that states build their own endorsement rules around [5]. Confirm your state's specific thresholds with your state department of motor vehicles or transportation department before assuming your driver's current license covers the vehicle you're buying.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to LogistiCare? Is it the same as Modivcare?
LogistiCare Solutions rebranded as Modivcare in 2019 after its parent company reorganized. It's the same underlying business, same core function managing NEMT benefits for state Medicaid programs and health plans, just operating under the Modivcare name now. If you're researching "LogistiCare" contracting, look for current Modivcare provider enrollment information instead.
What is non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT)?
NEMT is transportation for Medicaid or Medicare Advantage members getting to medical appointments, dialysis, or therapy who don't need ambulance-level emergency care. It includes ambulatory sedans, wheelchair-accessible vans, and stretcher vans. States must ensure Medicaid beneficiaries have NEMT access under 42 CFR 431.53, often by contracting with a broker like Modivcare, MTM, Access2Care, or SafeRide.
Does Medicaid cover ambulance rides?
Yes, when medically necessary, meaning other transportation would endanger the beneficiary's health. Ambulance coverage is a separate Medicaid benefit from NEMT, with its own medical necessity rules set by each state. NEMT wheelchair-van transport and ambulance transport are billed, licensed, and regulated differently, so confirm which benefit applies with your state Medicaid agency.
Does Medicare cover medical transportation?
Original Medicare Part B covers ambulance transportation only when other transport would endanger your health, and you typically pay 20% after the deductible, per Medicare.gov. Routine non-emergency rides generally aren't covered by Original Medicare, though some Medicare Advantage plans offer supplemental NEMT benefits as an extra, arranged through the plan's own transportation vendor.
How do you start a medical transportation business?
Form a business entity, secure commercial auto insurance meeting your state's minimum liability limits, buy or convert a compliant wheelchair van, get any required state operating authority, enroll as a Medicaid transportation provider, and then apply separately to the broker(s) contracted in your area. Confirm every requirement with your state Medicaid transportation unit before spending money.
How do you start an NEMT business with just one van?
Yes, you can start with one wheelchair van. Focus on getting the vehicle properly converted and inspected, securing insurance at the exact limits your state and broker require, and submitting complete paperwork the first time. Ask your target broker directly whether solo, one-van operators are being credentialed in your specific service area right now.
How long does Medicaid NEMT enrollment and broker credentialing take?
There's no fixed national timeline; expect anywhere from a few weeks to several months combined for state Medicaid enrollment and broker credentialing. The biggest factor is whether your first submission is complete, since missing insurance documents or incomplete driver files typically trigger resubmission cycles that add weeks each round.
Do I need a Medicaid provider number and broker approval, or just one?
Generally both. State Medicaid enrollment gives you a provider number recognized by the state's Medicaid program, but in states where a broker holds the transportation contract, that broker runs a separate credentialing process and controls which providers actually get dispatched trips day to day.
What insurance do I need for an NEMT wheelchair van business?
Commercial auto insurance with liability limits set by your state Medicaid agency and, separately, by each broker's contract; these minimums are often higher than standard commercial auto policies and can differ between brokers in the same state. Get exact current figures in writing from your state Medicaid transportation unit and your target broker before purchasing a policy.
What's the difference between NEMT and ambulance transport?
NEMT is for people who don't need emergency medical care en route, using wheelchair vans, ambulatory sedans, or stretcher vans with drivers who typically hold CPR/First Aid certification. Ambulance transport requires licensed EMTs or paramedics and is used when other transportation would endanger the patient's health, per Medicare and Medicaid medical necessity rules.
Can I get contracted with more than one broker, like Modivcare and MTM?
Often yes, if both hold active contracts in your service area and you meet each one's separate credentialing requirements, including insurance limits, vehicle standards, and driver files. Many owner-operators do work with multiple brokers to diversify trip sources, but each relationship requires its own application and ongoing compliance.
Does a broker guarantee I'll get trips once I'm credentialed?
No. Being accepted into a broker's provider network doesn't guarantee a specific volume of trips, or any trips at all, since dispatch depends on rider demand, your service area, and how many other providers the broker already has covering it. Ask the broker directly about current demand in your specific zip codes before counting on volume.
Sources
- eCFR, 42 CFR 431.53 (Assurance of transportation): States must ensure necessary transportation for Medicaid beneficiaries and may do so by contracting with a broker
- Medicaid.gov, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation: NEMT is described as a distinct Medicaid benefit from ambulance and emergency transportation services
- Medicare.gov, Ambulance Services: Medicare Part B covers ambulance transportation only when other transportation would endanger health, with beneficiary cost-sharing after the deductible
- eCFR, 49 CFR Part 390 (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, General): Federal motor carrier safety rules set the vehicle weight and jurisdiction thresholds that determine when federal regulation applies instead of state rules
- eCFR, 49 CFR 383.91 (Commercial Driver's License classifications): Federal CDL classification rules set the vehicle and passenger thresholds that states build their own endorsement requirements around
- Medicaid.gov, Medicaid Managed Care Statistics: State Medicaid programs increasingly use managed care and broker arrangements to deliver covered benefits including transportation