How to start a NEMT business in New Mexico: Turquoise Care brokers, NMDOT authority, and rules
Most New Mexico Medicaid members are in Turquoise Care, and each of its four health plans arranges its own members' rides. Modivcare serves Presbyterian and, until October 31, 2026, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, which moves to MTM Health on November 1, 2026. Molina uses Superior Medical Transportation. New Mexico also licenses NEMT carriers: you need an operating authority certificate from the NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau before you carry anyone for pay.
New Mexico NEMT at a glance
- Runs the program
- New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA), Medical Assistance Division
- Program
- Turquoise Care (Medicaid managed care) and fee-for-service transportation under 8.324.7 NMAC
- How rides are arranged
- Health plans each contract a broker. Each Turquoise Care plan arranges its members' rides, three of them through a named transportation vendor. Fee-for-service providers enrolled with HCA bill Medicaid directly.
- Brokers you will contract with
- Modivcare, MTM Health (from November 1, 2026), Superior Medical Transportation
- State operating license
- Required. Non-emergency medical transport is a certificated specialized passenger service under the Motor Carrier Act, issued by the NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau (18.3.2 NMAC).
- EVV for NEMT trips
- Not required
- Medicaid enrollment
- 631,890 (May 2026)
On this page
How Medicaid NEMT works in New Mexico
The Health Care Authority runs New Mexico Medicaid. Turquoise Care, its managed care program, started July 1, 2024 with four plans: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBSNM), Presbyterian Health Plan, Molina Healthcare of New Mexico, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. Most members are in managed care, and Native American members may choose to opt in. Each plan covers rides to medical appointments for its own members.
Fee-for-service transportation follows 8.324.7 NMAC. Transportation providers must enroll with Medicaid before they bill, submit claims on the CMS-1500, and are paid the lesser of their billed charge or the Medicaid fee schedule. For a carrier with a tariff, the billed charge cannot exceed the tariff. The least costly suitable option comes first, and trips over 65 miles from home need written referral documentation in the carrier's billing records, renewed every six months for continuing trips.
New Mexico also regulates NEMT as a motor carrier service. Since July 1, 2024, the NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau has issued operating authorities, taking over from the Public Regulation Commission under Senate Bill 160 (2023). Certificates the PRC issued stay in force with the same number.
Governing rule:8.324.7 NMAC: Transportation services and lodging
Who brokers Medicaid rides in New Mexico
Which vendor pays depends on the member's Turquoise Care plan. The BCBSNM switch on November 1, 2026 is the change to plan around this fall.
| Broker | Serves | Provider sign-up |
|---|---|---|
| Modivcare | Presbyterian Health Plan Turquoise Care members, and BCBSNM Turquoise Care members through October 31, 2026. Presbyterian members request rides through Presbyterian Customer Service (1-888-977-2333), and Modivcare handles reservation checks and discharges at 1-855-774-7737. BCBSNM rides 1-866-913-4342.BCBSNM moves to MTM Health on November 1, 2026. | Provider page |
| MTM Health | All BCBSNM members, starting November 1, 2026.Since November 1, 2026. | Provider page |
| Superior Medical Transportation | Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Turquoise Care members. Rides 833-707-7100. | Provider page |
| HCA fee-for-service | Medicaid members outside managed care, including Native American members who have not opted in. Enrolled providers bill HCA on the CMS-1500. | Provider page |
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan members book rides through UnitedHealthcare Member Services at 877-236-0826 (TTY 711), at least three business days ahead. Ask UnitedHealthcare provider services which transportation vendor contracts its network before you apply.
BCBSNM announced the MTM Health change on August 27, 2026. Providers that carry BCBSNM trips with Modivcare today need an MTM Health contract by November 1, 2026 to keep that work.
How to become a NEMT provider in New Mexico
New Mexico has more steps than most states: a motor carrier operating authority, Medicaid enrollment with HCA, and a contract with each plan's vendor.
Form the business and register for taxes
Register the company with the New Mexico Secretary of State and get a Combined Reporting System (CRS) number from the Taxation and Revenue Department. The NMDOT application asks for the CRS number and a certificate of workers compensation insurance or an exemption.
Apply to NMDOT for an operating authority
Non-emergency medical transport needs a certificate from the NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau. The application covers business and ownership details, your service territory (statewide or named counties), a proposed tariff with rates and dispatch process, insurance filings, a vehicle list with an annual inspection from the past 12 months, a written preventive maintenance program, a driver list with licenses and motor vehicle records, and a statement that you run a drug and alcohol testing program under 49 CFR Parts 40 and 382. Incomplete applications forfeit the fee after 60 days.
NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau: Forms and information
File insurance through your insurer
Your insurer files a uniform Form E directly with NMDOT, in the exact legal and d/b/a name of the business, endorsed "until canceled." Copies you send yourself do not count as proof.
Enroll with New Mexico Medicaid
Every provider paid by Medicaid, including through a Turquoise Care plan, must enroll with the program through HCA. Fee-for-service providers sign a provider participation agreement before submitting claims and are paid by electronic funds transfer only.
Contract with the plan vendors
Apply to Modivcare for Presbyterian trips, MTM Health for BCBSNM trips from November 1, 2026, and Superior Medical Transportation for Molina trips. Modivcare asks for PASS wheelchair training, First Aid and CPR, defensive driving, drug screening, motor vehicle reports, and background checks for drivers.
Mark your vehicles and keep filing
Display your business name and NM operating authority number on both doors. Annual reports are due to NMDOT by March 1 each year.
Vehicle and driver requirements in New Mexico
NMDOT's motor carrier rules set the state floor for vehicles and drivers. Plan vendors add their own credentialing.
Vehicles
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| Operating authority and markings | NMDOT certificate for non-emergency medical transport. Business name and "NM" authority number on both doors, in letters at least 2.5 inches high and 0.5 inch wide (18.3.4.13 NMAC). | Separate from vendor credentialing. You need both. |
| Inspection and maintenance | An annual inspection by a qualified inspector, with the form filed at application, plus a written preventive maintenance program. Smaller passenger vehicles are inspected before first use and at least once a year. | Modivcare asks for current registration and a state inspection where one is required. |
| Scope of service | No passengers who need medical monitoring or intervention. Self-administered oxygen up to six liters per minute by nasal cannula is allowed if the container is secured. | Vendors decide the type of ride each member needs when they book. |
| Rates | A tariff with rates, schedules, and dispatch process filed with NMDOT. Medicaid fee-for-service pays no more than the tariff or the Medicaid fee schedule, whichever is lower. | Plan trips pay the vendor's contract rate. |
Drivers
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| Age and license | At least 21 with a valid license (18.3.4.12 NMAC). | Motor vehicle report reviewed by Modivcare. |
| Driving record | Disqualified with more than three moving violations in three years, or one violation in three years for evading police, reckless driving, or driving on a suspended or revoked license. Driving records reviewed every year. | Clean driving record required by Modivcare. |
| Background check | Local and national criminal check, including a multistate records search and the national sex offender registry. Disqualified for a felony or a driving-related, violent, or sexual misdemeanor in seven years, more than three misdemeanors, or a registry listing. | Background check at credentialing. |
| Drug and alcohol testing | A program under 49 CFR Part 40 and Part 382. | Drug screen required by Modivcare. |
| Hours and fitness | No more than 12 hours of driving in any 24 hours. The 49 CFR 391.41 physical qualification standard applies. | Applies to plan trips too. |
| Training | Road test or equivalent under 49 CFR 391.31 and 391.33. | Modivcare requires PASS wheelchair training, First Aid and CPR, and defensive driving. |
Insurance minimums in New Mexico
New Mexico sets NEMT insurance through its motor carrier rules, which adopt the federal passenger carrier minimums.
| Coverage | Minimum | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicles seating 15 or fewer, including the driver | $1,500,000 | 18.3.3.10 NMAC and 49 CFR 387.33 |
| Vehicles seating 16 or more, including the driver | $5,000,000 | 18.3.3.10 NMAC and 49 CFR 387.33 |
| Deductible | No more than $5,000 unless NMDOT approves a higher deductible backed by a bond or self-insurance | 18.3.3.11 NMAC |
| Workers compensation | Certificate of coverage or exemption with the operating authority application | 18.3.2.9 NMAC |
| Modivcare contract | General liability (limits vary by state), sexual abuse and molestation coverage, auto liability, and workers compensation where required | Broker contract |
Does New Mexico require EVV for NEMT?
No. New Mexico uses EVV for in-home personal care visits, as the 21st Century Cures Act requires, starting January 1, 2021. NEMT is not included.
Plan vendors authorize and check their own trips. For fee-for-service trips, providers must confirm eligibility at the time of service, keep records that fully show each service, and keep referral documentation for trips over 65 miles. All Medicaid services are subject to utilization review, and payments for noncovered trips can be recouped. NMDOT inspects regulated carriers and can fine or suspend an operating authority.
HCA: New Mexico Medicaid and federal EVV requirements (January 2021)
What changed in New Mexico in 2025 and 2026
New Mexico Medicaid covered 631,890 people in May 2026, plus 42,383 in CHIP, according to CMS preliminary monthly data.
Plan benefits vary at the edges. BCBSNM pays members 50 cents per mile for approved mileage reimbursement and up to $22.92 a day for meals when they travel for care. Molina offers an enhanced transportation benefit for some trips Medicaid does not cover. BCBSNM, Molina, and UnitedHealthcare ask members to book at least three days ahead.
Two changes shape the market. NMDOT took over motor carrier regulation, including NEMT certificates, on July 1, 2024. And on November 1, 2026, BCBSNM moves every member's rides from Modivcare to MTM Health.
Senate Bill 160 is signed, moving motor carrier regulation from the Public Regulation Commission to NMDOT.
Turquoise Care begins with BCBSNM, Presbyterian, Molina, and UnitedHealthcare. The same day, the NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau takes over NEMT operating authorities under new 18.3 NMAC rules.
BCBSNM announces MTM Health as its new transportation provider.
MTM Health replaces Modivcare for all BCBSNM members.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the NEMT broker in New Mexico?
- Each Turquoise Care plan arranges its own members' rides. Modivcare handles Presbyterian, and BCBSNM until October 31, 2026. MTM Health takes over BCBSNM on November 1, 2026. Superior Medical Transportation handles Molina (833-707-7100). UnitedHealthcare members book through UnitedHealthcare Member Services at 877-236-0826.
- Do I need a license to run a NEMT business in New Mexico?
- Yes. Non-emergency medical transport is a certificated specialized passenger service under the New Mexico Motor Carrier Act. You apply to the NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau with your tariff, insurance filing, vehicle inspections, maintenance program, and driver files, and you display your NM authority number on both doors.
- What insurance does a New Mexico NEMT provider need?
- NMDOT adopts the federal passenger carrier minimums in 49 CFR 387.33: $1,500,000 for vehicles seating 15 or fewer including the driver, and $5,000,000 for 16 or more. Your insurer files a Form E directly with NMDOT, and deductibles are capped at $5,000 unless NMDOT approves more.
- What are the NEMT driver requirements in New Mexico?
- Drivers must be at least 21 with a valid license and pass a local and national criminal background check and a national sex offender registry check. A felony or a driving-related, violent, or sexual misdemeanor in the past seven years disqualifies a driver, as do more than three moving violations in three years. Drivers need a 49 CFR Part 382 drug and alcohol program and cannot drive more than 12 hours in 24.
- What is changing for BCBSNM transportation in 2026?
- Starting November 1, 2026, MTM Health replaces Modivcare as the transportation provider for all BCBSNM members. The member benefit does not change. Providers that want to keep carrying BCBSNM members need a contract with MTM Health in place by then.
- Does New Mexico require EVV for NEMT?
- No. New Mexico applies EVV to in-home personal care visits under the 21st Century Cures Act. NEMT is checked through plan vendor authorization, fee-for-service records and referrals, and utilization review.
- Can a New Mexico NEMT provider carry passengers on oxygen?
- Yes, if the oxygen is self-administered at no more than six liters per minute by nasal cannula and the container is secured. NEMT carriers cannot transport passengers who need medical monitoring or intervention.
- Who took over the PRC's transportation division?
- The NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau, on July 1, 2024, under Senate Bill 160 (2023). Certificates and warrants the PRC issued before then stay in force with the same number, and new applications, insurance filings, and annual reports go to NMDOT.
Running NEMT in New Mexico with HealthRide
New Mexico fleets are switching BCBSNM trips from Modivcare to MTM Health this fall while keeping Presbyterian and Molina work. HealthRide puts every trip on one dispatch board and records every payment in one ledger, so a new vendor is a new payer, not a new system.
Credential and inspection reminders flag expiring licenses and annual inspections before a driver or van gets assigned, and trip logs export as CSV or PDF for NMDOT or plan audits.
Official resources
- HCA: Turquoise Care overview
- 8.324.7 NMAC: Transportation services and lodging
- 18.3.1 NMAC: Motor carrier general provisions and definitions
- 18.3.2 NMAC: Operating authorities
- 18.3.3 NMAC: Financial responsibility
- 18.3.4 NMAC: Safety requirements
- NMDOT: Transportation Regulation Bureau
- NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau: FAQs on the move from the PRC
- NMDOT Transportation Regulation Bureau: Forms and information
- NMDOT: Non-emergency medical transport companies and tariffs
- 49 CFR 387.33: Financial responsibility, minimum levels
- HCA: New Mexico Medicaid and federal EVV requirements (January 2021)
- Presbyterian Health Plan: Turquoise Care transportation
- BCBSNM: Turquoise Care transportation services
- BCBSNM: Transportation provider change coming November 1, 2026
- Molina Healthcare of New Mexico: Medicaid benefits
- Superior Medical Transportation: Contact
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Mexico: Turquoise Care
- UnitedHealthcare: New Mexico Community Plan provider page
- Modivcare: Transportation providers
- MTM Health: Join the service provider network
- CMS: State Medicaid and CHIP enrollment data
HealthRide plans the whole day in one click and bills every ride.
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