How to start a NEMT business in Maine: Modivcare, Penquis, and MaineCare rules
MaineCare rides run through regional brokers, and Maine is consolidating them under one company. Modivcare won all eight regions in a 2023 bid, and Maine's Supreme Judicial Court upheld that award on August 4, 2026. Modivcare now brokers six regions, including the midcoast, which it took over on July 1, 2026. Penquis CAP still brokers Penobscot, Piscataquis, Kennebec, and Somerset counties and has said it will continue through the end of 2026. Transportation companies contract with the broker for their region, not with MaineCare.
Maine NEMT at a glance
- Runs the program
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of MaineCare Services (OMS)
- Program
- MaineCare Non-Emergency Transportation (NET)
- How rides are arranged
- Regional brokers, one per area. MaineCare pays one broker per transit region. Modivcare holds the award for all eight regions and runs six today. Penquis CAP runs the other two until Modivcare takes them over.
- Brokers you will contract with
- Modivcare, Penquis CAP
- State operating license
- No statewide NEMT license. Every registered vehicle needs a yearly Maine safety inspection, and towns may license vehicles for hire.
- EVV for NEMT trips
- Not required
- Medicaid enrollment
- 329,286 (May 2026, MaineCare and CHIP)
On this page
How Medicaid NEMT works in Maine
DHHS covers non-emergency transportation for MaineCare and CHIP members who have no other way to reach a covered service. Since August 1, 2013, rides have run through regional, risk-based brokers under a federal 1915(b) waiver, which CMS renewed from April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2028. Each broker takes a fixed monthly payment per member, schedules the rides for its region, checks eligibility, and pays the transportation companies it contracts with.
Members call the broker for their county at least two business days before an appointment. Urgent trips need no waiting period. Out-of-state appointments need MaineCare prior authorization, and DHHS asks members to give the broker at least two weeks of notice. The broker assigns the mode that fits the member, from bus passes and mileage reimbursement to taxis, sedans, rideshare, and wheelchair vans. Rules for brokers, drivers, and wheelchair vehicles are in MaineCare Benefits Manual Chapter II, Section 113.
For a transportation company, the broker is the customer. You sign a service agreement with the broker for your region, the broker credentials your drivers and vehicles, and the broker pays you at rates it negotiates. DHHS publishes quarterly broker reports: in April through June 2026 the brokers ran about 535,000 trips, with a missed-trip limit of 1 percent and an on-time floor of 85 percent.
Governing rule:MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 113: Non-Emergency Transportation (NET) Services
Who brokers Medicaid rides in Maine
Two brokers cover Maine in September 2026, split by county of residence. The state's eight transit regions set the lines, and the DHHS broker list shows which broker serves each county.
| Broker | Serves | Provider sign-up |
|---|---|---|
| Modivcare | Region 1 (Aroostook County plus Patten and Danforth), Region 2 (Washington and Hancock), Region 5 (Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, plus Brunswick and Harpswell), Region 6 (Cumberland), Region 7 (Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford), and Region 8 (York County and several western Oxford County towns).Since Region 5 since July 1, 2026. Holds the statewide award for all eight regions. Takes over Regions 3 and 4 from Penquis CAP next; Penquis has said it will keep brokering through the end of 2026. | Provider pageFacility line 877-659-1305 |
| Penquis CAP | Region 3 (Penobscot County except Patten, and Piscataquis) and Region 4 (Kennebec and Somerset).Lost its appeal of the Modivcare award on August 4, 2026 (2026 ME 79). Penquis has said it will continue rides through the end of 2026. | Provider pageProvider inquiries 207-974-2404 |
Waldo Community Action Partners brokered Region 5 from 2014 through June 30, 2026. Modivcare began booking midcoast rides on June 17, 2026 for appointments from July 1.
Modivcare filed for Chapter 11 in August 2025 and emerged on December 29, 2025. DHHS told members in September 2025 that rides and mileage reimbursement would continue in every region.
How to become a NEMT provider in Maine
Maine has no separate NEMT license and no direct MaineCare billing for these rides. The path to trips is a service agreement with the broker for the region where you operate.
Form the business and insure the vehicles
Register the company with the Maine Secretary of State, get a federal EIN, and register and insure every vehicle. Maine requires every private employer with employees to carry workers' compensation. Maine requires a yearly safety inspection for every registered vehicle, and brokers check the sticker. Ask each town you serve whether it licenses vehicles for hire, because municipalities may set their own license and insurance terms.
30-A M.R.S. § 3009: Municipal authority over vehicles for hire
Find the broker for your region
Use the DHHS broker list to match your service area to a broker. Modivcare covers most of the state. Penquis CAP covers Penobscot, Piscataquis, Kennebec, and Somerset counties for now, and it especially wants Penobscot and Piscataquis companies that can carry wheelchair users and children.
Maine DHHS: Non-Emergency Transportation broker list (July 1, 2026)
Apply and sign a service agreement
Apply through Modivcare's transportation provider form, or call Penquis Transportation Services at 207-974-2404. The broker reviews your company and sends its service agreement. The 2023 bid requires an orientation for new transportation companies on vehicle rules, timeliness standards, driver conduct, trip documentation, and billing.
Credential every driver
Section 113 sets the floor: a valid license, no more than two chargeable accidents or moving violations in three years, no suspension in five years, passenger assistance, defensive driving, and sensitivity training within 30 days, and First Aid and CPR within 60 days. Penquis also collects a Maine child abuse records check, DMV and State Bureau of Investigation checks, and a national sex offender search every two years, plus a yearly federal exclusion check.
Pass the broker vehicle inspection
Brokers inspect each vehicle, or confirm a current state inspection, before it goes into service, and run their own yearly inspection on top of the state one. The 2023 bid behind the statewide award also requires two-way communication, GPS or regional maps, a first aid and spill kit, fire extinguishers, triangles, and audio and video cameras in every contracted vehicle.
Document every trip
Brokers report every ride to MaineCare as encounter data, so keep the date, your company name, the time the vehicle leaves base, the pickup and drop-off locations, the return time, mileage, and an authorized signature on file. Drivers must wait at least 10 minutes past the scheduled pickup and call the broker before leaving a no-show.
Vehicle and driver requirements in Maine
Section 113 sets the state rules for drivers and wheelchair vehicles. The broker column shows the terms of the 2023 statewide bid (RFP 202303047), which adds equipment, camera, and insurance requirements, plus Penquis CAP's own credential rules where noted.
Vehicles
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| Safety inspection | Annual Maine motor vehicle inspection for every registered vehicle (29-A M.R.S. § 1751). | Broker inspects each vehicle or confirms a current state inspection before first use, runs its own yearly inspection, and keeps the records. |
| Wheelchair vehicles | At least 56 inches of floor-to-ceiling clearance, a lift or ramp, a lift interlock that holds the vehicle in park, and ADA tie-downs at each position (Section 113.06-19). | Same. The broker must also have enough transporters carrying a wheelchair for members discharged from a hospital who need one to get home. |
| Cameras | Not required by Section 113. | Audio and video cameras with at least 3 days of storage, footage kept 30 days, and a posted notice to passengers. |
| Equipment | Proper restraints for every passenger, including child safety seats where required. | Two-way radio or phone, GPS or regional maps, OSHA first aid kit, spill kit, fire extinguishers, three triangles, two seat belt extensions, a belt cutter, and a step stool for high entries. |
| Markings | No marking rule in Section 113. | Company name and vehicle number inside the vehicle. No "MaineCare" or "Medicaid" wording anywhere on it. |
Drivers
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| Driving record | Valid license, no more than two chargeable accidents or moving violations in three years, and no suspension or revocation in five years. | A second at-fault moving violation or accident on contract trips removes the driver. Penquis runs a Maine DMV record check every two years. |
| Criminal history | Violent or sexual Class A, B, or C convictions bar a driver for 10 years after the sentence ends. Drug-related Class A, B, or C convictions bar driving for 7 years. | State Bureau of Investigation check, Maine child abuse records check, and national sex offender search every two years, plus a yearly SAM exclusion check. |
| Training | Passenger assistance (such as PASS), defensive driving, customer service, and cultural and disability sensitivity within 30 days. First Aid and CPR within 60 days. | Penquis wants PASS and CPR certificates within 30 days of hire, with yearly refreshers. |
| Conduct | No handheld phones or texting while driving, no headphones, no smoking in the vehicle, every passenger secured before moving, and a visible ID badge with the company and driver name. | Same rules, and no smoking in the vehicle even with no passengers aboard. |
Insurance minimums in Maine
Section 113 sets no insurance amount. Maine's auto law sets the floor, and the 2023 statewide bid sets a higher bar for contracted vehicles.
| Coverage | Minimum | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Auto liability, any vehicle | $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident bodily injury, $25,000 property damage, $2,000 medical payments | 29-A M.R.S. § 1605 |
| Contracted transportation vehicles | $400,000 combined single limit | 2023 bid terms (RFP 202303047) |
| Volunteer drivers | $125,000 combined single limit | 2023 bid terms (RFP 202303047) |
| Workers compensation | Required for every private employer with employees | 39-A M.R.S. § 401 |
| Vehicles for hire | Set by the local licensing authority where one exists | 30-A M.R.S. § 3009 |
Does Maine require EVV for NEMT?
No. MaineCare's EVV requirement covers personal care and home health services that need an in-home visit, such as personal support, home health aide, and private duty nursing codes. Non-emergency transportation is not on the EVV service code list.
Brokers verify rides instead. They report every trip to MaineCare as encounter data with the date, transporter, base departure and return times, pickup and drop-off locations, mileage, and the transporter's authorized signature on file. The 2023 statewide bid adds in-vehicle cameras and monthly spot checks of driver credentials.
What changed in Maine in 2025 and 2026
MaineCare and CHIP covered 329,286 people in May 2026 (309,856 on MaineCare), according to CMS monthly enrollment data. Maine's brokers ran 535,076 trips from April through June 2026: 304,972 by Modivcare, 170,034 by Penquis CAP, and 60,070 by Waldo CAP.
The bigger story is consolidation. DHHS rebid all eight regions in May 2023 and awarded every one to Modivcare. Penquis CAP and Waldo CAP appealed. A state appeal panel upheld the challenged awards in April 2024, and the Supreme Judicial Court rejected Waldo CAP in February 2026 and Penquis CAP on August 4, 2026. Maine Morning Star put the statewide contract at about $750 million over 10 years.
Rates are set between each broker and its transportation companies. The 2023 bid sets floors the broker must pay: 48 cents per mile for agency transporters, $1.54 per mile for wheelchair vans, and 45 cents per mile for volunteers and for members, friends, and family.
Regional risk-based NET brokers begin in all eight Maine regions.
DHHS issues RFP 202303047 for NET brokerage in all eight regions.
A state appeal panel upholds the challenged Modivcare awards for Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8.
DHHS tells members rides continue in every region after Modivcare's bankruptcy filing.
Modivcare emerges from bankruptcy. DHHS confirms nothing changes for members.
The Supreme Judicial Court rejects Waldo CAP's challenge to the Region 5 award (2026 ME 13).
Providers can book midcoast rides with Modivcare for appointments from July 1.
Modivcare takes over Region 5 from Waldo CAP. DHHS updates the broker list.
The Supreme Judicial Court upholds the awards for Regions 2, 3, 4, and 8 against Penquis CAP's appeal (2026 ME 79).
Penquis CAP has said it will keep brokering Regions 3 and 4 through the end of the year before Modivcare takes over.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the NEMT broker in Maine?
- Two brokers in September 2026. Modivcare covers Regions 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8, which is most of the state. Penquis CAP covers Penobscot (except Patten), Piscataquis, Kennebec, and Somerset counties. Modivcare holds the statewide award for all eight regions and takes over Penquis's counties next.
- Is Modivcare taking over all of Maine?
- Yes. DHHS awarded all eight regions to Modivcare in 2023, and the Supreme Judicial Court upheld the award on August 4, 2026. Modivcare took over the midcoast on July 1, 2026. Penquis CAP has said it will keep brokering its four counties through the end of 2026.
- Do I need a license to run a NEMT business in Maine?
- Maine has no statewide NEMT license. You need a registered and insured vehicle with a current Maine inspection sticker, a service agreement with the regional broker, and any vehicle-for-hire license your town requires. The broker credentials your drivers and inspects your vehicles.
- Can I bill MaineCare directly for rides?
- No. NET rides are brokered. The broker receives a monthly payment per member from DHHS and pays the transportation companies in its network at rates it negotiates. Your contract and your claims go to the broker.
- What insurance does a Maine NEMT provider need?
- Maine's auto floor is $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage, plus $2,000 medical payments. The 2023 statewide bid requires brokers to hold contracted vehicles to a $400,000 combined single limit and volunteer drivers to $125,000. Employers also need workers' compensation.
- What are the driver requirements for MaineCare transportation?
- Section 113 requires a valid license, no more than two chargeable accidents or moving violations in three years, no suspension in five years, passenger assistance and defensive driving training within 30 days, and First Aid and CPR within 60 days. Violent or sexual felony convictions bar a driver for 10 years after the sentence ends.
- Do Maine NEMT vehicles need cameras?
- Under the terms of the 2023 statewide bid, yes. The bid requires audio and video cameras in contracted vehicles with at least three days of storage, footage kept for 30 days, and a sign telling passengers a camera is in use.
- Does Maine require EVV for NEMT?
- No. MaineCare EVV covers in-home personal care and home health services. Brokers document rides through trip records and encounter data instead.
Running NEMT in Maine with HealthRide
Maine fleets are about to report to one broker, but the paperwork does not get lighter. HealthRide keeps every trip on one dispatch board, captures signatures on screen, and exports the trip log as CSV or PDF when a broker asks for records.
Driver credential expiration reminders and vehicle inspection tracking help keep your roster clear when a broker checks it, and every payment, whichever payer sent it, lands in one ledger.
Official resources
- Maine DHHS: MaineCare Non-Emergency Transportation
- Maine DHHS: Non-Emergency Transportation broker list (July 1, 2026)
- Maine DHHS: Non-Emergency Transportation questions and answers
- Maine DHHS: 2026 second quarter NET broker report
- Maine DHHS: Midcoast broker change to Modivcare (Region 5)
- MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 113: NET Services
- Maine Secretary of State: MaineCare Benefits Manual
- Maine Division of Procurement Services: RFP 202303047 archive
- Maine RFP 202303047: Non-Emergency Transportation Services
- Maine Bureau of General Services: Decision of appeal, RFP 202303047
- Maine Supreme Judicial Court: Waldo Community Action Partners v. DAFS, 2026 ME 13
- Maine Supreme Judicial Court: Penquis C.A.P., Inc. v. DAFS, 2026 ME 79
- Maine Morning Star: Maine high court upholds $750M statewide Medicaid transport contract
- Maine DHHS: NET update after Modivcare bankruptcy filing (September 2025)
- Maine DHHS: NET update from Modivcare (February 2026)
- Maine DHHS: Electronic Visit Verification
- 29-A M.R.S. § 1605: Proof of financial responsibility
- 29-A M.R.S. § 1751: Motor vehicle inspection
- 30-A M.R.S. § 3009: Municipal ordinances, vehicles for hire
- 39-A M.R.S. § 401: Liability of employer (workers compensation)
- Modivcare: Maine facility and member information
- Modivcare: Become a transportation provider
- Penquis: MaineCare covered transportation
- Penquis: Becoming a transportation provider
- Penquis Transportation Services: Provider credentials list
- CMS: Medicaid and CHIP monthly enrollment data
HealthRide plans the whole day in one click and bills every ride.
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