How to start a NEMT business in Delaware: Modivcare, DMMA standards, and enrollment
Delaware uses one statewide broker for Medicaid rides, and DMMA names Modivcare as that broker. DMMA rebid the contract in 2025 and received 10 proposals, and the state bid site lists the award date as November 1, 2025. Transportation companies contract with Modivcare, not with DMMA, and the broker RFP spells out the driver, vehicle, GPS, and inspection standards you have to meet.
Delaware NEMT at a glance
- Runs the program
- Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA)
- Program
- DMMA Medical Transportation Program, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
- How rides are arranged
- One statewide broker. DMMA pays Modivcare a monthly rate per member to arrange rides for fully eligible Medicaid and Delaware Healthy Children Program members statewide.
- Brokers you will contract with
- Modivcare
- State operating license
- No NEMT-specific state license. DelDOT regulates taxicab, limousine, and bus service as public carriers under 2 Del. C. chapter 18.
- EVV for NEMT trips
- Not required
- Medicaid enrollment
- 235,322 (May 2026, Medicaid and CHIP)
On this page
How Medicaid NEMT works in Delaware
DMMA covers rides to and from covered medical services for all fully eligible Medicaid members and Delaware Healthy Children Program (CHIP) members. Members call Modivcare at 1-866-412-3778 at least three days before the appointment. Modivcare checks that the member is eligible and the trip is to a covered service, then assigns one of its contracted transportation providers.
The contract is risk-based. Modivcare receives a fixed payment per member per month, carries the full cost of every ride, and pays providers under its own service agreements. It must hold agreements with at least three ambulatory and three non-ambulatory providers in each county, not counting DART First State, Uber, or Lyft. Out-of-state trips needed under extraordinary medical circumstances need DMMA prior authorization.
DMMA writes the provider standards into its broker RFP. The 2025 RFP requires minimum driver ages, background limits, training within 90 days, an initial and yearly vehicle inspection, GPS in every vehicle, and a two-way communication system. The broker audits at least 10 percent of trips and screens providers and staff against federal exclusion lists every month.
Governing rule:Delaware RFP HSS-25-051: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
Who brokers Medicaid rides in Delaware
One broker covers all three counties and every eligible member. Transportation companies sign a service agreement with Modivcare and bill Modivcare.
| Broker | Serves | Provider sign-up |
|---|---|---|
| Modivcare | Statewide: fully eligible Medicaid and Delaware Healthy Children Program members in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties.Modivcare was the incumbent when DMMA rebid the contract in 2025 (HSS-25-051, award date November 1, 2025), and DMMA still names it as the broker. The RFP set a three-year term with two optional one-year extensions. | Provider pageMember ride line 1-866-412-3778 |
The 2025 rebid drew proposals from Modivcare, MTM Health, SafeRide Health, MediDrive, Provide A Ride, Transdev, Wilmington Regional Transit, Carepool, HB Software Solutions, and Vicedz Enterprise.
Modivcare may use DART First State buses and paratransit where they fit the trip, but members who are pregnant or traveling with more than two children under 6 cannot be required to take public transit.
How to become a NEMT provider in Delaware
In Delaware the broker RFP is the rulebook. Meet its driver and vehicle standards, pass the broker's inspection, and sign a service agreement with Modivcare.
Form the business
Register the company with the Delaware Division of Corporations and get a federal EIN. If you plan to run taxi, limousine, or bus service, check the DelDOT public carrier rules in 2 Del. C. chapter 18.
Apply to Modivcare
Submit Modivcare's transportation provider form. Modivcare's standard file covers PASS wheelchair training, First Aid and CPR, defensive driving, a drug screen, a motor vehicle report, and a background check for each driver, plus registration and insurance for each vehicle.
Pass the initial vehicle inspection
Every vehicle must pass the broker's inspection before the service agreement is signed, and again within 12 months of the last one. Inspectors check brakes, tire tread, turn signals, horn, seat belts, heating and air conditioning, and the required safety equipment.
Delaware RFP HSS-25-051: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
Equip every vehicle
Install a GPS unit that can recall vehicle locations and find pickup points, a two-way communication system to your base, a fire extinguisher, three reflective triangles (no flares), and an OSHA-grade first aid kit. Post the provider name, vehicle number, and broker phone number inside, and your company name outside.
Qualify and train your drivers
Drivers must be at least 21 with a valid Delaware license and no suspension in the past three years (child support suspensions excepted). Within 90 days of assignment each driver completes vehicle equipment training, first aid including CPR, spill kit and biohazard training, passenger assistance, safety and sensitivity training, defensive driving, and HIPAA.
Complete the broker orientation and bill Modivcare
Modivcare's orientation covers the program, vehicle rules, GPS, accident procedures, driver conduct, and attendants and escorts. After that you take trips and bill Modivcare, which must process provider claims electronically.
Vehicle and driver requirements in Delaware
The driver and vehicle standards below come from DMMA's 2025 broker RFP (HSS-25-051), and the broker enforces them through its service agreements. State law adds the license and insurance basics.
Vehicles
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| Operating authority | No NEMT license. DelDOT regulates taxicab, limousine, and bus service as public carriers (2 Del. C. chapter 18). | Modivcare service agreement, signed only after the vehicles pass inspection. |
| Inspection | Set by DMMA in the broker RFP. | Initial inspection before the agreement and another within 12 months of the last. DMMA can inspect any vehicle at any time. |
| GPS and communication | Set by DMMA in the broker RFP. | GPS that can recall vehicle locations over time and locate pickups and destinations, plus two-way communication with the provider's base. |
| Safety equipment | Child safety seats as Delaware law requires. | Fire extinguishers totaling at least 5 pounds, three triangles, an OSHA first aid kit, working heat and air conditioning, a seat belt for every seat, and an interior passenger mirror. |
| Wheelchair lifts | Set by DMMA in the broker RFP. | Handrails on both sides of the lift platform, a 30 by 48 inch forward-facing wheelchair space, and belts or a shoulder harness that secure both passenger and chair. |
Drivers
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| Age and license | Valid license under Delaware law. | At least 21 with a current Delaware license, and no suspension or revocation in three years except for child support. |
| Criminal history | Set by DMMA in the broker RFP. | No convictions for substance abuse, sexual crimes, or violent crimes. A felony in the last three years requires review by the broker and DMMA. |
| Driving record | Set by DMMA in the broker RFP. | Two at-fault moving violations or accidents during the contract term remove a driver from service. |
| Training | Set by DMMA in the broker RFP. | Within 90 days: vehicle equipment, first aid and CPR, spill kit and biohazard handling, passenger assistance, safety and sensitivity, defensive driving, and HIPAA. |
| Conduct | Set by DMMA in the broker RFP. | Visible company ID, no smoking, eating, or headphones, and escort to the main door. Two substantial grievances in 90 days mean retraining or removal. |
Insurance minimums in Delaware
Delaware sets general auto minimums by statute. The broker RFP requires every service agreement to include evidence of adequate insurance, and Modivcare sets the amounts in its agreement.
| Coverage | Minimum | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Auto liability, any vehicle | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident bodily injury, $10,000 property damage | 21 Del. C. § 2902 |
| Personal injury protection | $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident | 21 Del. C. § 2118 |
| Provider coverage under the service agreement | Commercial general liability, sexual abuse and molestation, auto liability, and workers compensation, with limits set by Modivcare | Broker contract (Modivcare) |
Does Delaware require EVV for NEMT?
No. Delaware EVV applies to in-home personal care and home health services, and since July 1, 2025 DMMA denies those claims when they cannot be matched to an EVV visit. Transportation is not an EVV service.
The broker RFP does the checking instead. The broker verifies the appointment with the medical provider on at least 10 percent of trips before they run and reviews at least 10 percent after, randomly audits at least 10 percent of rides, reviews driver logs and manifests, and uses the GPS required in every vehicle.
What changed in Delaware in 2025 and 2026
Delaware Medicaid and CHIP covered 235,322 people in May 2026 (221,563 on Medicaid), according to CMS monthly enrollment data. The 2025 RFP described the NEMT program as serving about 256,000 Medicaid and 8,900 Delaware Healthy Children enrollees.
The 2025 rebid was competitive: 10 companies bid, including MTM Health, SafeRide Health, MediDrive, and Provide A Ride. The state bid site lists the award date as November 1, 2025, and DMMA still names Modivcare, the incumbent, as its broker. The RFP set a three-year term with room for two one-year extensions. Provider rates are set in each Modivcare service agreement, and the RFP requires broker payments high enough to keep enough providers in the network.
Membership may shift in the next year. DMMA says new federal rules change Medicaid eligibility for some non-citizens starting October 1, 2026 and require work or community engagement for the adult expansion group starting January 1, 2027.
DMMA issues RFP HSS-25-051 for a statewide NEMT broker.
Ten proposals arrive, from Modivcare, MTM Health, SafeRide Health, MediDrive, Provide A Ride, Transdev, and others.
Modivcare files for Chapter 11.
The state bid site records the HSS-25-051 award date. The RFP set a three-year term with two optional one-year extensions.
Modivcare emerges from Chapter 11.
New federal rules change Medicaid eligibility for some non-citizens.
Work or community engagement requirements begin for the adult expansion group.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the NEMT broker in Delaware?
- Modivcare, statewide, for fully eligible Medicaid and Delaware Healthy Children Program members. Members book at 1-866-412-3778 at least three days before the appointment. Transportation companies contract with Modivcare to get trips.
- Did Delaware rebid its NEMT contract?
- Yes. DMMA issued RFP HSS-25-051 on June 5, 2025 and received 10 proposals. The state bid site lists the award date as November 1, 2025, and the RFP set a three-year term with two optional one-year extensions. Modivcare was the incumbent, and DMMA still names it as the broker.
- Do I need a license to run a NEMT business in Delaware?
- Delaware has no NEMT-specific license. You need a registered business, insured vehicles, and a Modivcare service agreement. DelDOT regulates taxicab, limousine, and bus service as public carriers, so check that chapter if your service fits one of those types.
- What are the driver requirements for Delaware NEMT?
- Under the broker RFP, drivers must be at least 21, hold a valid Delaware license with no suspension in three years, and have no convictions for substance abuse, sexual crimes, or violence. Within 90 days they need first aid and CPR, passenger assistance, safety and sensitivity, defensive driving, and HIPAA training.
- Do Delaware NEMT vehicles need GPS?
- Yes. The DMMA broker RFP requires a GPS system in every vehicle that can recall vehicle locations and find pickup points and destinations, plus a two-way communication system linking the vehicle to your base.
- What insurance does a Delaware NEMT provider need?
- Delaware's auto floor is $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 property damage, plus personal injury protection of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident. Modivcare sets the general liability, auto, abuse and molestation, and workers compensation limits in its service agreement.
- Does Delaware require EVV for NEMT?
- No. Delaware EVV covers in-home personal care and home health services. NEMT trips are checked through the broker's trip verification, audits, driver logs, and GPS.
Running NEMT in Delaware with HealthRide
Delaware's broker RFP asks for GPS in every vehicle, yearly inspections, and training records for every driver. HealthRide shows every vehicle live on one map, tracks vehicle inspections, and sends credential expiration reminders before a driver falls out of compliance.
Signatures are captured on screen in the driver app, and the trip log exports as CSV or PDF when Modivcare audits your rides.
Official resources
- DMMA: Medical Transportation Program
- Delaware Bids: HSS-25-051 Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
- Delaware RFP HSS-25-051: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
- Delaware RFP HSS-25-051: Addendum 1, questions and answers
- Delaware RFP HSS-25-051: Proposals received
- DMMA: Electronic Visit Verification
- DMMA: Medicaid ENGAGE (federal eligibility changes)
- 2 Del. C. chapter 18: Public carrier
- 21 Del. C. chapter 29, subchapter I: Motor vehicle liability policy (§ 2902)
- 21 Del. C. § 2118: Required insurance for registered motor vehicles
- Modivcare: Become a transportation provider
- SEC: Modivcare Form 8-K, August 2025
- SEC: Modivcare Form 8-K, December 2025
- CMS: Medicaid and CHIP monthly enrollment data
HealthRide plans the whole day in one click and bills every ride.
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