How to start a NEMT business in Michigan: health plan brokers, CHAMPS, and MDHHS rules
Michigan runs NEMT three ways. Medicaid Health Plans arrange rides for their members, most through MTM Health or SafeRide Health. Fee-for-service rides in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties go through Modivcare, MDHHS's contracted broker. Everywhere else, the local MDHHS office authorizes fee-for-service rides. Commercial and nonprofit providers enroll in CHAMPS, and Michigan has no separate NEMT license.
Michigan NEMT at a glance
- Runs the program
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
- Program
- Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT), Medicaid Provider Manual chapter
- How rides are arranged
- Health plans each contract a broker. Medicaid Health Plans arrange rides through their vendors. Modivcare brokers fee-for-service rides in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, and local MDHHS offices authorize the rest.
- Brokers you will contract with
- MTM Health, SafeRide Health, Modivcare, plus local MDHHS offices
- State operating license
- No NEMT license. Commercial and nonprofit providers enroll in CHAMPS and hold any transportation licenses and insurance their vehicle type requires.
- EVV for NEMT trips
- Not required
- Medicaid enrollment
- 2,024,546 (April 2026, Medicaid only)
On this page
How Medicaid NEMT works in Michigan
Most Michigan Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan members belong to a Medicaid Health Plan (MHP). MDHHS awarded the current five-year MHP contracts by the state's 10 prosperity regions, effective October 1, 2024. Nine plans hold them, from Upper Peninsula Health Plan, the only plan in Region 1, to eight plans in the Detroit metro region. Each plan is responsible for NEMT to all Medicaid covered services and sets its own notice and documentation rules.
Fee-for-service members follow the Medicaid Provider Manual's NEMT chapter. In Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, MDHHS contracts with Modivcare (formerly LogistiCare) to arrange and provide rides. Everywhere else, the local MDHHS office acts as the authorizing party: it checks eligibility, keeps a network of transportation providers, and schedules the least costly mode that fits the rider's needs.
Dual eligibles moved in 2026. MI Health Link ended December 31, 2025, and MI Coordinated Health, run by highly integrated dual eligible special needs plans (HIDE SNPs), launched January 1, 2026. Those plans also arrange NEMT for their members.
Governing rule:MDHHS Medicaid Provider Manual: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation chapter
Who brokers Medicaid rides in Michigan
MDHHS publishes each plan's NEMT vendor and contacts. As of May 2026, MTM Health holds five plans, SafeRide Health two, and Modivcare one plan plus the tri-county fee-for-service contract.
| Broker | Serves | Provider sign-up |
|---|---|---|
| MTM Health | Aetna Better Health of Michigan (formerly Access2Care, 844-610-7437), Blue Cross Complete of Michigan (888-803-4947), HAP CareSource, Molina Healthcare of Michigan (888-616-4842), and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan (888-777-4065). | Provider page |
| SafeRide Health | Meridian Health Plan of Michigan and Wellcare by Meridian (877-841-1356), plus Priority Health Choice (833-944-0535).Since May 1, 2024 (Meridian). | Provider page |
| Modivcare | Fee-for-service Medicaid members in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties (866-569-1902), plus McLaren Health Plan members. | Provider page |
| Upper Peninsula Health Plan (in-house) | UPHP members in the Upper Peninsula. UPHP arranges rides itself through member mileage reimbursement, volunteer drivers, buses, and taxis, with five business days' notice. | 800-835-2556 |
| Local MDHHS offices | Fee-for-service members outside Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. |
Notice rules vary by plan: two days for Blue Cross Complete and HAP CareSource, three days for Aetna, Meridian, Molina, and UnitedHealthcare, three business days for Priority Health Choice, one business day (called in by 3 p.m.) for McLaren, and five business days for UPHP.
Plans may set their own prior authorization and documentation rules, so read each vendor's provider manual before you run its trips.
How to become a NEMT provider in Michigan
CHAMPS enrollment is the state step. Plan work then runs through each vendor's credentialing.
Form the business
Register the company in Michigan and get a federal EIN. Commercial and nonprofit providers must hold every license and certification that transportation laws require for their vehicles, including any liability insurance those laws set.
Enroll in CHAMPS
Commercial and nonprofit NEMT providers, volunteer drivers, and friends or neighbors who drive members must enroll in CHAMPS and pass Medicaid provider screening. Taxicabs, public transit, family members, and foster parents are exempt. You must be enrolled on the date of service to be paid.
Meet the driver standards
Commercial and nonprofit drivers must be at least 18, able to read and communicate in English, and hold a valid license for the vehicle class that complies with Michigan Vehicle Code sections 304 and 319 on restricted licenses. MDHHS can deny or revoke enrollment over a restricted or suspended license.
Contract with the plan vendors
Apply to MTM Health for its five plans, SafeRide Health for Meridian and Priority Health Choice, and Modivcare for McLaren and the tri-county fee-for-service trips. SafeRide requires national background and sex-offender checks, a motor vehicle report, a pre-hire drug screen, First Aid or CPR, defensive driving, and wheelchair securement training, and holds providers to 95 percent on-time performance.
Work with local MDHHS offices
Outside the tri-county area, contact the local MDHHS office to join its network. Wheelchair lift and Medi-Van trips need a DHS-5330 Medical Verification for Transportation, completed each year, in the member's file.
Bill fee-for-service trips on the MSA-4674
Submit a complete MSA-4674 Medical Transportation Statement with itemized, unaltered receipts to the authorizing party within 12 months of service. Round-trip mileage must be verifiable with an online mapping service or a GPS device, and unloaded miles driven by commercial and nonprofit providers are not paid.
Vehicle and driver requirements in Michigan
The Medicaid Provider Manual sets the state floor for fee-for-service work. Plans and their vendors can add requirements on top.
Vehicles
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| Safety equipment | Seat belts and child safety seats as state law requires, plus working heat and air conditioning (Medicaid Provider Manual, NEMT section 4, revised April 1, 2026). | Vehicle registration and insurance checked at credentialing (SafeRide). |
| Accessibility | Commercial and nonprofit providers comply with the ADA and operate vehicles that meet riders' safety and medical needs. | Wheelchair securement training for drivers (SafeRide). |
| Wheelchair lift and Medi-Van trips | Paid as special allowances only with a DHS-5330 on file. Drivers are expected to assist and escort the rider, door to door for wheelchair lift vehicles. | Level of service confirmed by the vendor at booking. |
| Buses and larger vehicles | Public transportation providers follow the Motor Bus Transportation Act and Motor Carrier Safety Act, and drivers need a CDL for vehicles of 26,001 pounds or more or designed for 16 or more people. | Same. |
Drivers
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| Age and language | At least 18 and able to read and communicate effectively in English (commercial, nonprofit, and volunteer drivers). | Set by each vendor. |
| License | Valid license for the vehicle class, compliant with Vehicle Code sections 304 and 319 on restricted licenses. | Motor vehicle report (SafeRide). |
| Screening | CHAMPS provider screening. Family, foster parent, and taxi drivers must not be excluded from federal health programs or convicted after August 21, 1996 of a controlled-substance felony. | National background and sex-offender registry checks and a pre-hire drug screen (SafeRide). |
| Training | Not set in the NEMT chapter. | First Aid or CPR, defensive driving, and wheelchair securement (SafeRide). Annual fraud, waste, and abuse and HIPAA training (MTM Health). |
Insurance minimums in Michigan
Michigan's auto liability floor applies to every vehicle. Vendors set the working limits for plan trips.
| Coverage | Minimum | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Auto liability, any vehicle | $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident bodily injury, $10,000 property damage (insureds may choose limits as low as $50,000 and $100,000) | MCL 500.3009 |
| Commercial and nonprofit providers | Any liability insurance required by the transportation laws that apply to the vehicle | Medicaid Provider Manual, NEMT section 4.4 |
| SafeRide Health contract | $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate general liability, $500,000 auto, SafeRide named as additional insured | Broker contract |
| General liability and sexual abuse and molestation (SAM) | Required, limits vary by state | Broker contract (Modivcare) |
Does Michigan require EVV for NEMT?
No. Michigan uses electronic visit verification for Medicaid personal care services and home health care services, as the 21st Century Cures Act requires. NEMT is not part of it.
Fee-for-service trips are proven on paper instead. The MSA-4674 Medical Transportation Statement goes in with itemized receipts within 12 months, special allowances need an annual DHS-5330, and round-trip mileage must match an online mapping service or a GPS device. Plan vendors collect trip times and locations through their own apps and portals.
What changed in Michigan in 2025 and 2026
Michigan had 2,024,546 people on Medicaid and 167,319 on CHIP in April 2026, according to CMS enrollment data. MDHHS put Medicaid Health Plan membership at nearly 2 million when it awarded the current contracts.
Fee-for-service rates follow the MDHHS NEMT rate schedule effective July 1, 2026: $0.76 per mile for commercial, nonprofit, and public providers, $35 per round trip plus $0.76 per mile for a wheelchair lift or Medi-Van vehicle, and $15 for a medically necessary attendant. Plan trips pay the rate in your vendor contract.
SafeRide Health took over Meridian on May 1, 2024, and the region-based MHP contracts started October 1, 2024. Aetna Better Health of Michigan's vendor now shows as MTM Health, formerly Access2Care. MDHHS last revised its plan NEMT contact sheet on May 14, 2026.
Modivcare, which holds the tri-county fee-for-service contract and McLaren, filed for Chapter 11 on August 20, 2025 and emerged on December 29, 2025.
SafeRide Health begins NEMT for Meridian Health Plan Medicaid and Wellcare by Meridian members.
New five-year Medicaid Health Plan contracts take effect across the 10 prosperity regions.
Modivcare files for Chapter 11.
Modivcare emerges from Chapter 11.
MI Coordinated Health (HIDE SNPs) launches after MI Health Link ends on December 31, 2025.
MDHHS updates the NEMT chapter, including authorization, provider qualification, and managed care sections.
MDHHS revises its Medicaid Health Plan NEMT vendor and contact sheet.
A new NEMT rate schedule takes effect, and the covered services section adds receipt rules for the MSA-4674.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the NEMT broker in Michigan?
- It depends on the member. MTM Health serves Aetna, Blue Cross Complete, HAP CareSource, Molina, and UnitedHealthcare. SafeRide Health serves Meridian and Priority Health Choice. Modivcare serves McLaren and fee-for-service members in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. Upper Peninsula Health Plan arranges its own rides, and local MDHHS offices handle fee-for-service elsewhere.
- Do I need to enroll in CHAMPS to be a Michigan NEMT provider?
- Yes, if you are a commercial or nonprofit provider, a volunteer driver, or a friend or neighbor who drives a member. You must be enrolled in CHAMPS on the date of service to be paid. Taxicabs, public transit, family members, and foster parents are exempt.
- Does Michigan require a license for NEMT?
- There is no NEMT-specific license. Providers must hold any license, certification, and insurance that transportation laws require for their vehicles, comply with the ADA, and enroll in CHAMPS. Public transit providers also follow the Motor Bus Transportation Act.
- What are the driver requirements for NEMT in Michigan?
- Commercial and nonprofit drivers must be at least 18, read and communicate effectively in English, and hold a valid license for the vehicle class that meets Vehicle Code rules on restricted licenses. Plan vendors add screening: SafeRide, for example, requires background, sex-offender, and driving record checks, a drug screen, and First Aid, defensive driving, and wheelchair securement training.
- How much does Michigan Medicaid pay for fee-for-service NEMT?
- Under the July 1, 2026 schedule, commercial providers get $0.76 per mile. Wheelchair lift and Medi-Van vehicles get $35 per round trip plus $0.76 per mile, and a medically necessary attendant adds $15. Unloaded miles are not paid, and plan trips pay the vendor contract rate.
- What insurance does a Michigan NEMT provider need?
- Every vehicle needs Michigan auto liability of $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident unless the insured chooses lower limits (no less than $50,000 and $100,000), plus $10,000 property damage. Vendors set higher limits: SafeRide asks for $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate general liability and $500,000 auto.
- Does Michigan require EVV for NEMT?
- No. Michigan EVV covers personal care and home health care services. Fee-for-service NEMT uses the MSA-4674 statement with receipts and mileage that matches a mapping service or GPS device.
- How do fee-for-service trips work in Detroit?
- Fee-for-service members in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties request rides from Modivcare, MDHHS's contracted broker, at 866-569-1902. To run those trips, contract with Modivcare. Outside those three counties, the local MDHHS office authorizes fee-for-service trips.
Running NEMT in Michigan with HealthRide
A Michigan fleet can carry MTM Health, SafeRide Health, and Modivcare trips plus fee-for-service work for local MDHHS offices. HealthRide keeps them on one dispatch board and records every payment, whichever payer sent it, in one ledger.
Michigan pays fee-for-service mileage only when it can be checked against a mapping service or GPS device. The HealthRide driver app records GPS-recorded miles, timestamps, and signatures on every leg, and the trip log exports as CSV or PDF.
Official resources
- MDHHS: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (rate schedule)
- MDHHS: Medicaid Health Plan NEMT contacts and process (May 2026)
- MDHHS Medicaid Provider Manual (NEMT chapter)
- MDHHS: Medicaid Health Plan award recommendations (April 2024)
- MDHHS: Highly Integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (MI Coordinated Health)
- MDHHS: Electronic Visit Verification
- Michigan Compiled Laws 500.3009: Liability policy limits
- SafeRide Health: Meridian and Wellcare by Meridian in Michigan
- SafeRide Health: What to expect as a NEMT provider
- Modivcare: Transportation providers
- MTM Health: Transportation providers
- CMS: Medicaid and CHIP monthly enrollment data
- SEC: Modivcare Form 8-K, August 2025
- SEC: Modivcare Form 8-K, December 2025
HealthRide plans the whole day in one click and bills every ride.
$59 per vehicle per month. No contracts.