How to become a NEMT provider in New York: MAS, eMedNY enrollment, and rules
Updated September 2026
New York has one statewide broker and a gated enrollment process. Medical Answering Services (MAS) arranges every Medicaid ride statewide for fee-for-service and managed care members alike, and Medicaid pays providers directly through eMedNY. You cannot enroll in eMedNY as a transportation provider without a MAS letter of support, and ambulettes need Department of Transportation operating authority plus Article 19-A driver compliance before that. Inside New York City the Taxi and Limousine Commission licenses the base, the vehicle, and the driver.
New York NEMT at a glance
- Runs the program
- New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Bureau of Health Access, Policy, and Innovation
- Program
- Medicaid Transportation Program
- How rides are arranged
- One statewide broker. MAS approves and assigns every trip under a state contract. Providers contract with MAS and bill Medicaid through eMedNY at published county rates.
- Brokers you will contract with
- Medical Answering Services (MAS)
- State operating license
- Ambulettes: NYSDOT operating authority and DMV Article 19-A. New York City: TLC paratransit base, vehicle, and driver licenses.
- EVV for NEMT trips
- Not required
- Medicaid enrollment
- 6,374,641 (July 2026)
How Medicaid NEMT works in New York
The Department of Health pays for Medicaid transportation as a fee-for-service benefit under 18 NYCRR 505.10, even for members in managed care plans. One broker, Medical Answering Services, runs the program statewide. It takes trip requests, checks eligibility and medical need, picks the least expensive suitable mode, assigns the trip to a provider in its network, and issues the prior authorization number the provider needs to bill. MAS owns no vehicles and does not pay providers. Medicaid does, through eMedNY, at the county fee schedule.
MAS took over every county except Nassau and Suffolk on August 1, 2023 and Long Island on December 1, 2023, replacing the regional transportation managers. Managed long-term care members joined the MAS system on March 1, 2024, and MAS began handling Fidelis Care members in Rockland County on April 1, 2026. Every trip needs prior approval, non-urgent trips need 72 hours notice, and members call the downstate line at 844-666-6270 or the upstate line at 866-932-7740.
Providers do not choose the broker or negotiate with plans. They contract with MAS, meet its credentialing and GPS rules, attest each trip within 30 days of service, and bill Medicaid. Trips are assigned by the member's choice of provider, then the ordering practitioner's, then by rotation, with MAS preferred-provider arrangements taking priority where they exist.
Governing rule: 18 NYCRR 505.10: Transportation for medical care and services
Who brokers Medicaid rides in New York
One broker. MAS holds both regional contracts (downstate and upstate) and has run the program statewide since 2023.
| Broker | Serves | Since | Provider sign-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Answering Services (MAS) | All Medicaid fee-for-service and managed care members in all 62 counties, including managed long-term care since March 1, 2024 and Fidelis Care members in Rockland County since April 1, 2026. | August 1, 2023 (Long Island December 1, 2023) | Provider page Provider relations 866-242-2578 |
Getting into the MAS network is the gate. MAS reviews the network application and decides whether to issue the letter of support that eMedNY requires. The state's policy manual describes MAS as the party that contracts directly with transportation providers, sets network driver and vehicle requirements, and negotiates fee-for-service reimbursement.
How to become a NEMT provider in New York
The order matters in New York. Licensing first, then the MAS network application, then eMedNY enrollment, then the MAS contract.
- 1
Form the business and get an NPI
Register the company with the New York Department of State, get a federal EIN, and apply for a National Provider Identifier.
- 2
Get the operating authority for your vehicle type
Ambulettes need a Common Carrier certificate or Contract Carrier permit from the New York State Department of Transportation under the Transportation Law, and drivers who comply with DMV Article 19-A. Expect 6 to 16 weeks for the authority, with NYSDOT vehicle inspections at $85 per vehicle per inspection, charged at the initial, semi-annual, and any re-inspection. Taxis and liveries follow local licensing; inside New York City that means a Taxi and Limousine Commission base, vehicle, and driver license. Transportation network company drivers hold a DMV TNC license, or a TLC for-hire license inside the city, plus a letter of support from the Department of Health (medtrans@health.ny.gov).
- 3
Apply to the MAS network and request the letter of support
Submit the MAS Transportation Provider Network Application. MAS provider relations reviews it and decides whether to issue the letter of support. eMedNY rejects any transportation enrollment application submitted after April 15, 2024 without it.
- 4
Enroll in eMedNY
Enroll under the right category of service: 0602 ambulette, 0603 taxi (upstate only), 0605 livery (New York City only), 0606 OPWDD transport, or 0609 transportation network company. The application takes the category credentials, a signed Attestation for Non-Medical Transportation Providers, ETIN certification, the IRS letter showing the legal name and EIN, EFT enrollment, and a $750 fee. Determinations can take 90 days or longer, and incomplete applications are deleted after 45 days.
- 5
Sign the MAS network contract and meet the GPS rule
Once eMedNY approves, MAS finalizes the network contract. Since April 3, 2023 every trip's start point, end point, and breadcrumb GPS coordinates must be sent to MAS, and GPS data that does not match the invoice's pickup, drop-off, and mileage blocks the prior authorization. Choose a driver app that records them before your first trip.
- 6
Add NYC TLC licenses if you operate in the five boroughs
A TLC paratransit base license costs $1,000 for two years. A paratransit vehicle license costs $550 for two years and needs a NYSDOT inspection report (form MC300) less than a month old and a base affirmation. Paratransit drivers need a TLC paratransit driver license: age 18 or older, a chauffeur license in commercial class A, B, or C, active Article 19-A status, fingerprinting, and a six-hour defensive driving course, about $367 all in for three years.
Vehicle and driver requirements in New York
New York regulates ambulettes at the state level and taxis and liveries locally. The Department of Health's transportation policy manual adds program rules for every network vehicle, and MAS credentials on top.
Vehicles
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| Ambulette operating authority | NYSDOT Common or Contract Carrier authority under the Transportation Law and a displayed NYSDOT certificate of inspection (17 NYCRR Part 720). | MAS credentials each vehicle in its network. |
| Ambulette equipment | Lift or ramp rated for at least 600 pounds, a 30-inch aisle, an emergency door at least 30 by 48 inches, and positive wheelchair securements (17 NYCRR 720.8). | Same. |
| Program equipment | DMV registration in the proper class, insurance, two-way radio or cell phone, working heat and air conditioning, GPS capability that transmits to the broker, and accident reports to the broker within 48 hours (DOH transportation policy manual). | MAS GPS breadcrumb submission and trip attestation. |
| NYC paratransit vehicle license | TLC license, $550 for two years, NYSDOT MC300 inspection report, base affirmation. | Same. |
| Trip records | Member name and Medicaid ID, date, origin and pickup time, destination and drop-off time, plate, driver license number, driver signature, kept six years (18 NYCRR 504.3, 505.10(e)(8), and the DOH transportation policy manual). Electronic signatures with unmodifiable timestamps are accepted. | MAS attestation within 30 days of service. |
Drivers
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| Article 19-A (ambulette drivers) | Pre-employment and biennial medical exams. Pre-employment and annual license abstract. Biennial road test and oral or written test. Annual defensive driving observation and driving record review. DMV affidavit of compliance each July 1. | MAS driver credentialing on top. |
| NYC paratransit driver license | Age 18 or older, chauffeur license (CDL A, B, or C), active 19-A status, fingerprints, six-hour defensive driving course. | Same. |
| Taxi and livery drivers | Class E license plus TLC or county licensing where required. | MAS credentialing. |
| Drug testing | No Medicaid program mandate. Federal DOT testing applies to CDL drivers of vehicles built for 16 or more passengers, and 19-A testing rules cover school bus drivers. | MAS credentialing requirements. |
Insurance minimums in New York
New York sets the floor in Vehicle and Traffic Law section 370 for every for-hire passenger vehicle. NYSDOT and the TLC enforce it at licensing, and the TLC applies the state levels to paratransit vehicles.
| Coverage | Minimum | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicles seating 7 or fewer | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident bodily injury, $50,000 and $100,000 for death, $10,000 property damage | Vehicle and Traffic Law § 370 |
| Vehicles seating 8 or more | $1,500,000 combined single limit | Vehicle and Traffic Law § 370 |
| NYC paratransit vehicle | State levels above, filed as an FH-1 certificate | NYC TLC |
| Network coverage | Proof of coverage at credentialing | MAS contract |
Does New York require EVV for NEMT?
No. New York EVV covers personal care services (since January 1, 2021) and home health services (since January 1, 2023) under the Cures Act. Transportation is not on the impacted programs list.
MAS runs its own verification instead: prior approval for every trip, GPS breadcrumbs from the vehicle since April 3, 2023, and a trip attestation within 30 days that has to match the GPS record. Federal prosecutors indicted the owners of a Long Island taxi company on July 1, 2026 for more than $35 million in fake and kickback-driven ambulette billing, so expect the documentation bar to keep rising.
What changed in New York in 2025 and 2026
New York had 6,374,641 Medicaid enrollees in July 2026, and 56 percent of them live in New York City, which is why TLC licensing shapes so much of the state's NEMT market. The state projected $630 million in Medicaid transportation spending for fiscal 2026.
Rates are public. The eMedNY transportation fee schedule dated April 5, 2026 pays a New York City wheelchair van $52.90 per trip plus $3.60 per mile. Nassau and Suffolk pay $64.00 plus $3.00 per mile, and Albany, Erie, and Monroe counties pay $43, $41, and $44 plus $3.00 per mile. Stretcher vans pay $230 in New York City, Nassau, and Suffolk, $200 in Westchester, and $101 in Albany, Erie, and Monroe. A New York City taxi or livery trip pays $22.97 plus $2.93 per mile. Tolls are reimbursed at the E-ZPass rate, and ambulettes are exempt from the congestion surcharge.
Two developments matter for operators. Congestion pricing began in Manhattan on January 5, 2025 with an exemption for vehicles used in the zone solely to transport people with disabilities, including ambulettes. In July 2026 the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York charged two Tri-Hamlet Taxi owners with a $35 million ambulette fraud scheme built on methadone clinic trips.
The current version of 18 NYCRR 505.10 takes effect. Notice
The ambulette enrollment moratorium for New York City, Nassau, and Suffolk lifts. Notice
NYSDOH requires GPS breadcrumb data for every Medicaid trip, submitted to the broker. Notice
MAS becomes the statewide broker for every county except Nassau and Suffolk. Notice
Nassau and Suffolk counties move to MAS. Notice
Managed long-term care transportation moves to MAS. Notice
eMedNY begins rejecting transportation applications that lack a MAS letter of support. Notice
Congestion pricing begins in Manhattan with an exemption for disability transport, including ambulettes. Notice
MAS begins arranging transportation for Fidelis Care members in Rockland County. Notice
eMedNY publishes the current transportation fee schedule. Notice
Federal prosecutors indict Tri-Hamlet Taxi owners on charges of more than $35 million in ambulette fraud. Notice
Frequently asked questions
Who is the NEMT broker in New York?
Medical Answering Services (MAS). It arranges every Medicaid ride statewide, for fee-for-service and managed care members. MAS took over every county except Nassau and Suffolk on August 1, 2023, Long Island on December 1, 2023, and managed long-term care members on March 1, 2024.
How do I become a Medicaid transportation provider in New York?
Get the operating authority for your vehicle type (NYSDOT for ambulettes, TLC or local licensing for taxis and liveries). Apply to the MAS network and obtain its letter of support. Enroll in eMedNY under the matching category of service with the $750 fee, then sign the MAS network contract. Expect 90 days or more for the state decision.
What is the MAS letter of support?
A letter MAS issues after reviewing your network application. Since April 15, 2024 eMedNY rejects any new transportation provider application that does not include it, which makes MAS the gatekeeper for entering the market.
Is GPS required for Medicaid trips in New York?
Yes. Since April 3, 2023 every trip's start point, end point, and breadcrumb coordinates go to MAS, and GPS data that does not match the invoice blocks the prior authorization. Trips must be attested within 30 days of service.
What licenses does an ambulette company need in New York?
NYSDOT Common or Contract Carrier operating authority under the Transportation Law, Article 19-A compliance for every driver, and, inside New York City, TLC paratransit base, vehicle, and driver licenses.
How much does New York Medicaid pay for an ambulette trip?
Rates are set per county in the eMedNY fee schedule dated April 5, 2026. A New York City wheelchair van pays $52.90 plus $3.60 per mile, Nassau and Suffolk $64.00 plus $3.00 per mile, and Albany, Erie, and Monroe $43, $41, and $44 plus $3.00 per mile. Stretcher vans pay $230 in New York City, Nassau, and Suffolk, $200 in Westchester, and $101 in Albany, Erie, and Monroe.
What insurance does a NEMT vehicle need in New York?
Vehicle and Traffic Law section 370 sets the floor: vehicles seating 7 or fewer need $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident bodily injury, $50,000 and $100,000 for death, and $10,000 property damage. Vehicles seating 8 or more need a $1.5 million combined single limit. The TLC applies the state levels to paratransit vehicles.
Does New York require EVV for NEMT?
No. New York EVV applies to personal care and home health services. MAS requires GPS breadcrumbs and a trip attestation within 30 days instead, and ambulette trip records must meet 18 NYCRR 505.10.
Can I contract with Medicaid managed care plans directly in New York?
No. Transportation is carved out of managed care and paid fee-for-service through eMedNY, so plans do not contract transportation providers. Nearly every Medicaid ride goes through MAS. The main exception is adult day care transportation provided by the day program itself under a managed long-term care plan.
Are ambulettes exempt from Manhattan congestion pricing?
Vehicles used in the congestion zone solely to transport people with disabilities, including ambulettes, qualify for the MTA's Organizational Disability Exemption Plan, with annual recertification. Ambulettes are also exempt from the Medicaid congestion surcharge that taxis bill.
Running NEMT in New York with HealthRide
New York has one broker and a GPS-matched attestation on every trip. HealthRide's driver app records the GPS trail, timestamps, and signatures MAS attestations depend on, and every trip stays tied to the driver and vehicle that ran it.
Every payment, Medicaid included, lands on one billing ledger next to private pay and facility invoices, and the trip log exports as CSV or PDF.
Official resources
- NYSDOH: Medicaid transportation overview
- NYSDOH: Medicaid transportation enrollee FAQs
- 18 NYCRR 505.10: Transportation for medical care and services
- eMedNY: Transportation manual, policy guidelines
- eMedNY: Transportation fee schedule
- eMedNY: Transportation provider enrollment (Option 2)
- eMedNY: Additional requirements for transportation enrollment
- eMedNY: Attestation for non-medical transportation providers
- MAS: Become a transportation provider
- MAS: Contact center
- MAS: Transportation provider relations team
- MAS: New York State GPS requirement
- MAS: FAQ for transportation providers
- NYSDOT: Passenger carrier operating authority
- 17 NYCRR 720.8: Ambulette equipment
- NYS DMV: Article 19-A information
- NYS DMV: For-hire insurance minimum and maximum liability
- Vehicle and Traffic Law § 370: Insurance for for-hire vehicles
- NYC TLC: Paratransit base license
- NYC TLC: Get a paratransit vehicle license
- NYC TLC: Get a paratransit driver license
- NYC TLC: Vehicle insurance requirements
- NYSDOH: Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)
- NYSDOH: Medicaid enrollment by county, current month
- NYSDOH: Medicaid Global Cap report, third quarter FY2026
- NYSDOH and OASAS: CMMA policy reminder for addiction treatment trips (May 2025)
- Fidelis Care: MLTC transportation moves to MAS
- MTA: Congestion Relief Zone discounts and exemptions
- U.S. Attorney, EDNY: Health care fraud charges (July 2026)
NEMT in other states
Health plans each contract a broker. Brokers: SafeRide Health, MTM Health, Modivcare.
NEMT in FloridaHealth plans each contract a broker. Brokers: Modivcare, MTM Health, Alivi, Ride2MD.
NEMT in CaliforniaHealth plans each contract a broker. Brokers: Modivcare, Call the Car, American Logistics.
NEMT in PennsylvaniaCounty-run programs. Brokers: County MATP offices statewide; Modivcare in Philadelphia.
NEMT in ColoradoStatewide broker, phasing in. Brokers: MediDrive.