Kenney NEMT LLC: what its story teaches new NEMT owners

Last updated 2026-07-25

What is Kenney Non Emergency Medical Transportation LLC?

Kenney Non Emergency Medical Transportation LLC is a limited liability company registered to operate in the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) space, the same category of business as thousands of small wheelchair-van and ambulatory transport operators across the country. Names like this show up constantly in state business registries and Secretary of State databases because "LLC" is the default legal structure for a one-van or small-fleet NEMT operation. There's no national program, credential, or franchise tied to a name like this; it's simply how a small transportation company organizes itself for liability and tax purposes. If you found this name while researching how to start your own company, the honest answer is that the entity name itself doesn't matter much. What matters is the sequence behind it: forming the LLC correctly in your state, getting the right vehicle and insurance, enrolling as a Medicaid transportation provider, and then credentialing with whichever regional broker manages non-emergency rides in your area (Modivcare, MTM, Access2Care, SafeRide, or a state-specific vendor). Think of any small NEMT LLC, including one named after its founder, as a template. The name tells you almost nothing about trip volume, contract status, or how long the company has operated. What it does confirm is that forming a single-purpose transportation LLC is the normal, expected first step, not an unusual one.

What is non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT)?

NEMT is transportation for Medicaid enrollees (and some Medicare Advantage or private-pay patients) who need rides to medical appointments but don't require an ambulance or emergency response. It covers dialysis runs, wheelchair-accessible van trips to specialists, ambulatory sedan rides to primary care, and stretcher transport for patients who can't sit upright but aren't in an emergency. Federal Medicaid rules require states to make sure enrollees can actually get to covered care. The regulation at 42 CFR 431.53 states that a state plan must "specify that the Medicaid agency will ensure necessary transportation for recipients to and from providers" ^[1]. That single sentence in federal code is the reason NEMT exists as a distinct, funded service in every state Medicaid program, more than a convenience add-on. Most states don't run this transportation in-house. They contract it out to a regional or statewide broker, who then subcontracts rides to independent transportation companies, which is where an owner-operator with one wheelchair van fits in. You're not usually billing Medicaid directly; you're billing the broker, who bills the state.

Does Medicaid cover ambulance rides?

Yes, Medicaid covers ambulance transportation when it's medically necessary, but that's a separate benefit category from NEMT. Ambulance transport (emergency or non-emergency, but requiring medical monitoring) is billed under different codes and usually paid directly by the state Medicaid agency or a managed care plan, not through the NEMT broker network. CMS explicitly separates these categories in its guidance to states, distinguishing ambulance services from "non-emergency transportation," which covers rides that don't need medical equipment or trained EMT staff during transit ^[2]. If your wheelchair van doesn't have medical equipment and your drivers aren't licensed EMTs, you're in the NEMT lane, not the ambulance lane, and you enroll through the transportation broker or state NEMT unit, not through ambulance licensure. Some states blur this at the edges with stretcher-van service, which sits between the two: non-emergency, but the patient must stay supine. Confirm with your state Medicaid agency whether stretcher transport requires a separate license or vehicle inspection standard, because requirements vary widely.

Does Medicare cover medical transportation?

Medicare's coverage of NEMT is much narrower than Medicaid's. Traditional Medicare (Part B) covers ambulance transportation when other transportation would endanger the patient's health, per 42 CFR 410.40, but it generally does not cover routine non-emergency van or wheelchair transport to a doctor's appointment ^[3]. Medicare Advantage plans are a different story. CMS has allowed Medicare Advantage plans, since 2019, to offer non-emergency transportation as a supplemental benefit, and many now do, contracting with NEMT companies the same way Medicaid brokers do ^[4]. If you want Medicare Advantage business alongside your Medicaid contracts, you'll typically credential with the same regional brokers (Modivcare and MTM both manage Medicare Advantage transportation networks in various states), so getting broker-approved once can open both doors. Bottom line for a new owner-operator: don't count on Medicare fee-for-service as a revenue base. Build your business around state Medicaid NEMT first, then treat Medicare Advantage broker contracts as a bonus if your broker offers them.

How do you start a medical transportation business?

Starting a medical transportation business follows a fairly consistent order across states, even though the specific paperwork and fees differ. Skipping steps or doing them out of order is the single biggest reason new owner-operators lose weeks waiting on approvals. Here's the realistic sequence: 1. Form your LLC (or corporation) with your Secretary of State and get an EIN from the IRS. 2. Get a business bank account and general liability plus commercial auto insurance quoted before you buy a vehicle, because insurers price wheelchair vans differently than passenger vans. 3. Buy or convert a wheelchair-accessible vehicle that meets your state's ADA and vehicle inspection standards. 4. Register as a Medicaid transportation provider with your state Medicaid agency (this is separate from broker credentialing). 5. Apply for broker network credentialing (Modivcare, MTM, Access2Care, SafeRide, or your state's designated broker). 6. Complete driver background checks, drug testing, and any state-required passenger assistance or wheelchair securement training. 7. Pass your vehicle inspection and get your permit or operating authority, if your state requires one. Most states require Medicaid enrollment before broker credentialing will even be reviewed, so don't apply to a broker first and figure the state paperwork out later. For deeper detail on the state-by-state steps, see medical transportation and nemt.

How to start a NEMT business with one van

You can absolutely start with a single wheelchair van; most independent NEMT operators do. The economics and paperwork are the same whether you plan three vans or one, just scaled down, and a one-van operation is often the easiest to get through broker credentialing because your insurance and driver files are simpler to verify. The practical checklist for a one-van start: - Confirm your state's minimum insurance limits for commercial passenger vehicles carrying Medicaid patients (these are often higher than standard commercial auto minimums; confirm with your state Medicaid agency and insurer).

• Decide whether you'll drive the van yourself or hire a driver on day one. If you're the sole driver, your own background check and training records become the whole file the broker reviews.
• Budget for a wheelchair-lift inspection and securement certification if your state requires one; several states tie this to annual vehicle inspection cycles rather than one-time approval.
• Apply to only the brokers that actually operate in your county. Broker territories are regional, not statewide, in many states, so check your state Medicaid transportation unit's broker map before applying to the wrong one. A one-van business is a legitimate, common starting point, not a lesser version of a "real" fleet. Plenty of long-running NEMT companies started with exactly one wheelchair van and grew from broker referrals.

How to start a NEMT business (state Medicaid enrollment, step by step)

State Medicaid enrollment is the piece most new operators underestimate. It's a separate process from broker credentialing, and in most states it has to happen first. Each state Medicaid agency maintains its own provider enrollment portal, application, and fee schedule for transportation providers. Ohio Medicaid, for example, requires NEMT providers to enroll through the Ohio Department of Medicaid's Provider Network Management module and lists NEMT as a distinct provider type with its own enrollment requirements ^[5]. Texas Medicaid, by contrast, routes NEMT largely through its Medical Transportation Program (MTP) broker structure, with providers credentialing through the regional broker rather than enrolling directly as a standalone Medicaid provider in most areas ^[6]. These two states alone show how differently "enrollment" can work; there is no single federal NEMT enrollment form. Because of that variation, confirm the exact enrollment path with your specific state Medicaid agency before assuming any process from a different state applies to you. What's consistent everywhere is that you'll need: your LLC formation documents, EIN, vehicle registration and insurance certificates, driver background check results, and often a National Provider Identifier (NPI), even though NEMT providers are typically not billing for clinical services. See non emergency medical transportation for state-specific enrollment notes.

How do broker credentialing requirements work (Modivcare, MTM, Access2Care, SafeRide)?

Broker credentialing is the step where the regional NEMT broker reviews your company before assigning you any trips. Each broker runs its own credentialing packet, but they overlap heavily: proof of insurance, vehicle inspection records, driver background checks, drug testing policy, and often a facility or vehicle photo inspection. Modivcare (formerly LogistiCare) operates NEMT brokerage contracts in a large number of states and requires transportation providers to submit an application through its provider portal, including insurance certificates naming Modivcare as certificate holder in many contracts . MTM (Medical Transportation Management) runs similar credentialing in other states, with its own provider enrollment application and orientation requirements. Access2Care and SafeRide operate in fewer states but follow the same general pattern: application, document verification, background checks, and vehicle inspection before activation. A practical note: broker requirements change with contract renewals. A state's NEMT broker can change entirely when the state re-bids the contract, sometimes with only a few months' notice to providers. Confirm current requirements directly with your broker and your state Medicaid transportation unit rather than relying on anything older than a year; credentialing checklists get updated more often than people expect. For a side-by-side look at how these brokers differ, see nemt transportation.

What insurance and vehicle standards do wheelchair vans need?

Wheelchair vans used for Medicaid NEMT generally need commercial auto insurance with limits well above a personal policy, a working wheelchair lift or ramp meeting ADA accessibility standards, and passenger securement systems that meet whatever inspection standard your state or broker specifies. The Americans with Disabilities Act sets baseline accessibility standards for vehicles used in public transportation, and the U.S. Department of Transportation's ADA regulations at 49 CFR Part 37 cover accessibility requirements for vehicles, including wheelchair lift specifications, that many state NEMT programs reference or incorporate . Beyond that federal floor, states and brokers commonly add their own annual vehicle inspection, decal, or permit requirements specific to NEMT vans, separate from your regular state vehicle registration inspection. Insurance minimums vary sharply by state and by broker contract; some brokers require $1 million combined single limit liability coverage per vehicle, others set lower thresholds. Don't guess. Get your specific limits in writing from both your state Medicaid transportation unit and your broker before you buy a policy, because underinsuring by even a modest margin can get an application rejected outright.

What does a Medicaid NEMT trip actually look like end to end?

A typical Medicaid NEMT trip starts with the patient (or their care coordinator) calling the broker's dispatch line, usually at least 24 to 72 hours before the appointment, though same-day rides exist for urgent, non-emergency needs. The broker verifies Medicaid eligibility and medical necessity, then assigns the trip to a credentialed provider in its network based on location, vehicle type, and availability. The provider (you) picks up the patient, confirms identity and eligibility documentation per broker protocol, transports them, and often waits or returns for a scheduled pickup after the appointment. Billing then goes to the broker, not directly to the state Medicaid agency, using whatever trip-verification system the broker requires (some use GPS-based verification apps, others use paper or phone verification). Payment timelines differ broker to broker and state to state; some pay weekly, some on a longer net cycle. This is a real cash-flow planning issue for a new one-van operator, since you'll be fronting fuel and driver costs before broker payment arrives. Ask about the payment cycle during credentialing, not after your first month of trips.

What does it cost to get NEMT-ready, and what's actually worth paying for?

Startup costs for a one-van NEMT business vary enormously by state and by whether you're converting an existing van or buying a purpose-built wheelchair-accessible vehicle. Wheelchair-accessible vans (new or professionally converted) commonly run in the tens of thousands of dollars, and that's before commercial insurance, inspection fees, LLC formation costs, and any state-specific NEMT permit or decal fees. Where new owner-operators waste money is usually one of two places: paying a consultant a large flat fee to "handle everything" with a broker when the actual application is a document checklist you can complete yourself, or skipping insurance shopping and taking the first quote instead of comparing at least two or three commercial auto carriers that specifically write NEMT policies. Where it's worth spending money: a real pre-purchase inspection on any used wheelchair van, since a failed lift or corroded ramp mechanism can fail a broker's vehicle inspection and delay your activation by weeks. A one-time reference tool that organizes state Medicaid and broker paperwork checklists, like RideCredential's $199 Launch Kit, can save real time compared to piecing requirements together from scattered PDFs, but it doesn't replace your own state Medicaid application or broker credentialing decision; no product can guarantee approval, and any operator or vendor claiming otherwise should raise a flag.

Do you need a special license to drive for NEMT?

Most states don't require a commercial driver's license (CDL) to drive a standard wheelchair van, since these vehicles typically carry fewer than the passenger threshold that triggers CDL rules under federal and state commercial licensing law. What states and brokers almost universally require instead is a clean driving record, a passed background check, and completion of passenger assistance and wheelchair securement training specific to NEMT. Some states require a separate NEMT driver certification or a defensive driving course renewed annually; others leave training requirements to the broker's discretion. Drug and alcohol testing policies also vary: some states require DOT-style testing programs even for non-CDL NEMT drivers, especially for larger vans. Confirm your state's specific driver licensing and training rules with your state Medicaid transportation unit before hiring anyone, since operating with an undertrained or improperly certified driver is one of the fastest ways to lose broker network status after you've already started running trips.

Where can you find reliable, current state-specific rules?

The most reliable sources are your state Medicaid agency's transportation unit page and your regional broker's provider portal, both of which get updated when contracts renew or rules change. Medicaid.gov's own transportation guidance page is a useful starting point for understanding the federal framework, but it won't give you your state's specific fee, form, or credentialing checklist ^[1]. Because brokers and states genuinely do change requirements, sometimes with a new broker winning a state contract entirely, treat any article, including this one, as a framework for what to ask rather than a final answer. Always confirm current specifics with your broker and your state Medicaid agency directly before submitting an application or buying insurance based on last year's numbers. For deeper state-by-state breakdowns and broker comparisons, see non emergency medical transportation services and emergency medical transport if you're weighing whether your service falls into NEMT or true emergency/ambulance territory.

Frequently asked questions

What is NEMT?

NEMT stands for non-emergency medical transportation: rides for Medicaid (and some Medicare Advantage) enrollees who need to get to medical appointments but don't need an ambulance. It covers wheelchair vans, ambulatory sedans, and stretcher vans. Federal Medicaid rule 42 CFR 431.53 requires states to ensure enrollees have transportation to covered care, which is why NEMT exists as a funded benefit in every state Medicaid program.

Does Medicaid cover ambulance rides?

Yes. Medicaid covers medically necessary ambulance transportation, but it's billed and administered separately from NEMT. Ambulance transport requires medical monitoring during transit and is typically paid directly by the state Medicaid agency or managed care plan, not routed through the NEMT broker network that handles wheelchair van and ambulatory rides.

Does Medicare cover medical transportation?

Traditional Medicare Part B mainly covers emergency and medically necessary ambulance transport, not routine non-emergency van rides, per 42 CFR 410.40. Medicare Advantage plans, however, can offer non-emergency transportation as a supplemental benefit since CMS approved this in 2019, and many contract with the same NEMT brokers used for Medicaid, like Modivcare and MTM.

How do I start a medical transportation business?

Form an LLC, get an EIN, secure commercial auto insurance, buy or convert a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, enroll as a Medicaid transportation provider with your state agency, then apply for broker credentialing (Modivcare, MTM, Access2Care, or SafeRide, depending on your region). Complete driver background checks and required training before your vehicle inspection. Confirm exact order and forms with your state Medicaid agency.

How do I start a NEMT business specifically, versus general medical transport?

NEMT specifically means non-ambulance rides for Medicaid or Medicare Advantage enrollees. Starting one requires state Medicaid provider enrollment plus regional broker credentialing, not ambulance licensure. The core steps are entity formation, insurance and vehicle compliance, Medicaid enrollment, and broker application, roughly in that order, since most states require Medicaid enrollment before broker review.

Can I start a NEMT business with just one wheelchair van?

Yes, a single-van start is common and often easier to credential than a multi-vehicle fleet, since your insurance and driver files are simpler to verify. You'll still need the same state Medicaid enrollment, broker credentialing, insurance limits, and driver training as a larger operation, just scaled to one vehicle and possibly one driver (yourself).

What is Kenney Non Emergency Medical Transportation LLC?

It's a small, state-registered LLC operating in the non-emergency medical transportation space, similar in structure to thousands of other independent NEMT companies nationwide. There's no unique program or credential attached to the name; it illustrates the standard business structure (an LLC) that most wheelchair-van owner-operators use when starting their own company.

Is a CDL required to drive a NEMT wheelchair van?

Usually not. Most standard wheelchair vans fall below the passenger and weight thresholds that trigger commercial driver's license requirements under federal and state rules. States and brokers instead typically require a clean driving record, background check, and passenger assistance/securement training. Some states add DOT-style drug testing even for non-CDL drivers. Confirm specifics with your state Medicaid transportation unit.

How is broker credentialing different from Medicaid provider enrollment?

Medicaid provider enrollment registers your company with the state Medicaid agency as an eligible transportation provider. Broker credentialing is a separate process where the regional broker (Modivcare, MTM, Access2Care, SafeRide) reviews your insurance, vehicles, and drivers before assigning you trips. Most states require Medicaid enrollment to happen first, since brokers often verify your enrollment status during their review.

How much does it cost to start a one-van NEMT business?

Costs vary widely by state and vehicle choice, but expect wheelchair-accessible van purchase or conversion costs in the tens of thousands of dollars, plus commercial insurance, LLC filing fees, vehicle inspection fees, and any state NEMT permit costs. There's no reliable national average; get quotes specific to your state and insurer before budgeting, since insurance alone varies sharply by region.

Do NEMT brokers pay providers directly, or does Medicaid pay me?

In broker-managed states, the broker pays you, not the state Medicaid agency directly. You bill the broker using their required trip-verification system (GPS app, phone check-in, or paper log), and the broker in turn bills the state. Payment cycles differ by broker; ask about payment timing during credentialing so you can plan cash flow.

Can NEMT companies also work with Medicare Advantage plans?

Yes. Since CMS allowed Medicare Advantage plans to offer non-emergency transportation as a supplemental benefit starting in 2019, many MA plans contract through the same regional brokers used for Medicaid NEMT. Getting credentialed with a broker like Modivcare or MTM for Medicaid can sometimes open access to their Medicare Advantage transportation contracts too, depending on the broker and state.

Sources

1. eCFR, 42 CFR 431.53: States must ensure necessary transportation for Medicaid recipients to and from providers
2. Medicaid.gov, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation: Federal framework distinguishing NEMT from ambulance transportation under Medicaid
3. eCFR, 42 CFR 410.40: Medicare Part B ambulance coverage conditions and non-emergency transport limits
4. CMS, Reinterpretation of Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits: CMS allowed Medicare Advantage plans to expand non-emergency transportation as a supplemental benefit starting 2019
5. Texas Health and Human Services, Medical Transportation Program: Texas routes NEMT largely through its Medical Transportation Program broker structure rather than direct Medicaid provider enrollment
6. eCFR, 49 CFR Part 37: Federal ADA transportation vehicle accessibility standards that many state NEMT programs reference for wheelchair lift and securement requirements