How to start a NEMT business in West Virginia: Modivcare, BMS Chapter 524, and PSC rules
West Virginia uses one statewide broker for non-ambulance Medicaid rides. Modivcare has managed NEMT for the Bureau for Medical Services (BMS) since September 1, 2018, and today it serves both Medicaid and WVCHIP members. That includes members of Mountain Health Trust managed care, which carves NEMT out. Transportation companies contract with Modivcare and do not enroll directly with Medicaid. Vehicles used only for Medicaid NEMT are exempt from Public Service Commission (PSC) carrier regulation but must follow PSC safety rules.
West Virginia NEMT at a glance
- Runs the program
- West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Medical Services (BMS)
- Program
- West Virginia Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
- How rides are arranged
- One statewide broker. BMS pays Modivcare a capitated rate per member per month. Modivcare arranges all non-ambulance NEMT for Medicaid and WVCHIP members statewide.
- Brokers you will contract with
- Modivcare
- State operating license
- A current West Virginia business license. Vehicles used only for Medicaid NEMT are exempt from PSC carrier regulation but follow PSC safety rules (W. Va. Code §24A-1-3).
- EVV for NEMT trips
- Not required
- Medicaid enrollment
- 447,082 (May 2026, Medicaid only)
On this page
How Medicaid NEMT works in West Virginia
BMS, part of the West Virginia Department of Human Services, runs Medicaid and pays for NEMT under Chapter 524 of the BMS Provider Manual, effective June 1, 2024. All non-ambulance NEMT goes through the state's contracted broker, a full-risk vendor paid a capitated amount per member per month. The broker checks each member's eligibility, confirms the member has no other way to get there, picks the most economical mode that meets the member's needs, and arranges the trip with a network provider.
Modivcare, formerly LogistiCare, has been that broker since September 1, 2018. Mountain Health Trust, the managed care program that covers about 87 percent of Medicaid members, carves NEMT out, so plan members book rides through Modivcare too. WVCHIP members joined Mountain Health Trust on January 1, 2021, and Modivcare arranges their rides as well.
Transportation providers contract with the broker and do not enroll directly with the Medicaid program. Members book at least five business days ahead on one toll-free line, and the broker accepts standing orders for repeat trips. Rides to a limited range of licensed behavioral health center services and home and community-based waiver services are exempt from the broker.
Governing rule:BMS Provider Manual, Chapter 524: Transportation (effective June 1, 2024)
Who brokers Medicaid rides in West Virginia
One broker handles every non-ambulance Medicaid ride in West Virginia. Chapter 524 requires the Modivcare network to include every covered mode and any willing and qualified provider.
| Broker | Serves | Provider sign-up |
|---|---|---|
| Modivcare | All Medicaid and WVCHIP members statewide, including members of the four Mountain Health Trust plans: Aetna Better Health of West Virginia, The Health Plan of West Virginia, Highmark Health Options, and Wellpoint of West Virginia.Since September 1, 2018. | Provider pageReservations 1-844-549-8353, Ride Assist 1-844-549-8354 |
Modivcare negotiates reimbursement with each provider. BMS is not a party to those contracts or to disputes under them, and a provider has 15 calendar days to request review of a broker decision.
Gas mileage reimbursement for members is limited to the nearest qualified provider, up to 125 miles from home in state or within 30 miles of the state border.
How to become a NEMT provider in West Virginia
West Virginia NEMT companies work through Modivcare. BMS sets the baseline in Chapter 524, and the Modivcare contract adds the details.
Form the business and stay current
Register with the West Virginia Secretary of State and hold a valid, current West Virginia business license. Chapter 524 also requires you to stay current on workers compensation and employment security premiums and on all state and local taxes.
Apply to Modivcare
BMS sends prospective transportation providers to Modivcare. Chapter 524 requires those provider contracts to cover payment, modes, service areas, scheduling, dispatch, pickup standards, driver qualifications and conduct, vehicle requirements, backup service, training, and evidence of insurance for vehicles and drivers.
Check the PSC safety rules
Vehicles used only for Medicaid NEMT, including trips under a BMS-authorized broker, are exempt from Chapter 24A carrier regulation. Those vehicles and their drivers still follow the safety rules the PSC adopts.
Qualify vehicles and drivers
Every driver needs a valid license. Specialized multi-passenger van drivers need current First Aid and CPR certification on file with Modivcare, and the van must be an approved multi-passenger vehicle with its registration filed with Modivcare. Sedans and limousines do not qualify for that category. Every transport vehicle is inspected once a year by the appropriate regulatory authority.
Keep records and report changes
Report changes to your organization, staff, or fleet in writing within 30 days. Keep records that show the type, level, and volume of trips you provide, and be ready to show proof of license, insurance, and tax compliance to BMS on request.
Vehicle and driver requirements in West Virginia
Chapter 524 sets a short state baseline, then requires all NEMT vehicles and drivers to meet the requirements in their Modivcare contracts. Modivcare monitors provider compliance with vehicle and driver safety rules.
Vehicles
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| Operating authority | Exempt from PSC carrier regulation when used only for Medicaid NEMT. PSC safety rules still apply (W. Va. Code §24A-1-3(13)). | Modivcare contract and credentialing. |
| Annual inspection | Every transport vehicle inspected once a year by the appropriate regulatory authority (Chapter 524.1.3). | Modivcare monitors vehicle safety compliance under its BMS contract. |
| Multi-passenger vans | Must be an approved multi-passenger vehicle. Sedans and limousines do not qualify for the specialized multi-passenger van category (Chapter 524.1.2.1). | Vehicle registration on file with Modivcare. |
| Fleet changes | Changes to the organization, personnel, or fleet reported in writing within 30 days. | Written notice to BMS Provider Enrollment and/or Modivcare. |
Drivers
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| Driver license | A valid driver's license for every driver (Chapter 524.1). | Driver qualifications and conduct standards set in the Modivcare contract. |
| First Aid and CPR | Required for specialized multi-passenger van drivers, with current certificates kept on site for BMS review. | Certification documents filed with Modivcare. |
| Safety training | The broker must educate and train providers on safety and contract requirements (Chapter 524.3.1.3). | Modivcare provider education and training, plus pre-trip and post-trip validation checks. |
Insurance minimums in West Virginia
Chapter 524 requires current liability coverage but leaves the amount for non-ambulance providers to state law or the broker. Modivcare sets the working minimum in its provider contract.
| Coverage | Minimum | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Auto liability floor, any vehicle | $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage | W. Va. Code §17D-4-2 |
| NEMT provider liability | Errors and omissions and/or auto liability at the amount state law or Modivcare requires | BMS Chapter 524 and broker contract |
| Workers compensation | Premiums kept current | BMS Chapter 524 |
| Ambulance providers, for comparison | At least $1,000,000 | W. Va. Code §16-4C-16, cited in Chapter 524 |
Does West Virginia require EVV for NEMT?
No. West Virginia applies EVV to in-home care, such as personal care services under Chapter 517 of the BMS Provider Manual. Chapter 524, the transportation chapter, has no EVV requirement.
Modivcare runs pre-trip and post-trip validation checks under its BMS contract and refers suspected fraud, abuse, or misuse to BMS. Chapter 524 also requires providers to keep records that fully show the type, level, and volume of the trips they provide.
What changed in West Virginia in 2025 and 2026
West Virginia Medicaid covered 447,082 people in May 2026, plus 39,310 in WVCHIP, according to preliminary CMS data. West Virginia counts everyone enrolled at any point in the month rather than on a single day.
With one broker, Modivcare's health affects every provider in the state. Modivcare filed for Chapter 11 on August 20, 2025 and emerged on December 29, 2025. It remains the statewide broker in 2026.
Mountain Health Trust covers about 87 percent of Medicaid members, and NEMT stays carved out of it. A member who switches plans keeps booking rides through Modivcare.
Modivcare, then LogistiCare, begins managing West Virginia Medicaid NEMT.
WVCHIP members move into Mountain Health Trust managed care.
The current Chapter 524 transportation manual takes effect.
Modivcare files for Chapter 11 in the Southern District of Texas.
Modivcare's reorganization plan takes effect and the company emerges from Chapter 11.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the NEMT broker in West Virginia?
- Modivcare is the statewide broker for all non-ambulance Medicaid and WVCHIP transportation. It has managed West Virginia Medicaid NEMT since September 1, 2018. Mountain Health Trust plan members also book through Modivcare, because NEMT is carved out of managed care. The reservation line is 1-844-549-8353.
- Do I need a PSC certificate for NEMT in West Virginia?
- Not for vehicles used only in Medicaid NEMT, including trips for a BMS-authorized broker. W. Va. Code §24A-1-3 exempts them from Chapter 24A carrier regulation, but the vehicles and drivers must follow the PSC's safety rules.
- Do I enroll with West Virginia Medicaid as a NEMT provider?
- No. Chapter 524 says non-ambulance transportation providers do not enroll directly with the Medicaid program. They contract with Modivcare and provide services through it, and Modivcare keeps the enrollment documentation.
- What are the driver requirements for NEMT in West Virginia?
- Every driver needs a valid license. Specialized multi-passenger van drivers need current First Aid and CPR certification filed with Modivcare. Everything else, including driver qualifications, conduct, and training, is set in the Modivcare contract, and Modivcare monitors compliance.
- What insurance does a West Virginia NEMT provider need?
- Chapter 524 requires current errors and omissions and/or auto liability coverage, in the amount state law or Modivcare requires. The state auto floor is $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage. Ambulance providers need at least $1,000,000.
- How far ahead do members book NEMT in West Virginia?
- At least five business days before the appointment, on Modivcare's toll-free line. Trips booked with less notice that a medical provider has not marked urgent depend on driver availability. Modivcare also sets up standing orders for repeat trips.
- Does West Virginia require EVV for NEMT?
- No. West Virginia EVV applies to in-home care, such as personal care services under Chapter 517. NEMT trips are checked by Modivcare's pre-trip and post-trip validation instead.
- Did the Modivcare bankruptcy change West Virginia NEMT?
- Modivcare filed for Chapter 11 on August 20, 2025 and emerged on December 29, 2025. It remains the BMS statewide broker in 2026, so providers keep contracting with Modivcare.
Running NEMT in West Virginia with HealthRide
West Virginia providers answer to one broker, so on-time performance and clean trip records carry the whole relationship. HealthRide plans the day with Ryder Go and shows every vehicle on one live map with ETAs and late warnings.
The driver app records GPS-recorded miles, timestamps, and signatures on every leg, and the trip log exports as CSV or PDF, which helps with the service records Chapter 524 tells providers to keep.
Official resources
- BMS: NEMT information for providers
- BMS: NEMT information for members
- BMS: Member transportation
- BMS: Chapter 524 Transportation
- BMS Provider Manual, Chapter 524: Transportation (effective June 1, 2024)
- BMS: Chapter 517 Personal Care Services
- BMS: Mountain Health Trust (managed care)
- BMS: Your Guide to Medicaid 2026
- Modivcare: Transportation providers and drivers
- Modivcare: West Virginia facility resources
- Modivcare: West Virginia NEMT facility brochure
- W. Va. Code §24A-1-3: Exemptions from chapter
- W. Va. Code §17D-4-2: Proof of financial responsibility
- SEC: Modivcare Form 8-K, August 2025
- SEC: Modivcare Form 8-K, December 2025
- CMS: State Medicaid and CHIP enrollment data
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