How to start a NEMT business in Wisconsin: the NEMT manager, SMV certification, and rules
Wisconsin runs Medicaid rides through one statewide NEMT manager. MTM Health holds that contract today, and on May 21, 2026 DHS announced its intent to select Verida as the next vendor, with no transition date set. Wisconsin Medicaid certifies specialized medical vehicle (SMV) companies under DHS 105.39, and trips come through a contract with the manager.
Wisconsin NEMT at a glance
- Runs the program
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Medicaid Services
- Program
- Wisconsin Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
- How rides are arranged
- One statewide broker. DHS contracts one NEMT manager that verifies eligibility, schedules rides, credentials providers, and pays claims statewide.
- Brokers you will contract with
- MTM Health (current); Verida (notice of intent May 2026, no start date set)
- State operating license
- Specialized medical vehicle providers need Wisconsin Medicaid certification under DHS 105.39 and must meet WisDOT human service vehicle rules (ch. Trans 301).
- EVV for NEMT trips
- Not required
- Medicaid enrollment
- 1,012,295 (May 2026, Medicaid only)
On this page
How Medicaid NEMT works in Wisconsin
DHS contracts a single NEMT manager to schedule and pay for rides to services covered by Wisconsin Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus. Members qualify when they have no other way to get there and are enrolled in Medicaid (including IRIS), BadgerCare Plus, Express Enrollment, Family Planning Only Services, or Tuberculosis-Related Services. The manager must use the least expensive ride that meets the member's needs, from a bus pass or gas mileage reimbursement to a specialized medical vehicle or nonemergency ambulance.
The current contract with MTM Health started on November 1, 2021. It added a dedicated unit for critical appointments such as chemotherapy, a member portal with real-time ride tracking, an independent reviewer for denials, and a transportation provider ombudsman who helps drivers and companies with questions and claims. A full-time DHS contract monitor tracks a 99.7 percent complaint-free standard, statewide SMV availability, and electronic ride tracking.
DHS issued RFP S-1699 DMS-25 for the next contract. On May 21, 2026 it announced a notice of intent to select Verida, which had the highest-scoring proposal. MTM Health stays in place through the procurement, and DHS has said providers and facilities do not need to do anything yet.
Governing rule:Wis. Admin. Code DHS 107.23: Transportation
Who brokers Medicaid rides in Wisconsin
One manager covers the whole state. Contract with MTM Health for trips today, and watch the DHS vendor page for Verida's transition plan.
| Broker | Serves | Provider sign-up |
|---|---|---|
| MTM Health | All Wisconsin Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus members with the NEMT benefit, statewide.Since November 1, 2021 (current contract). DHS announced its intent to select Verida on May 21, 2026. No transition date is set. | Provider pageMember and facility line 866-907-1493 |
| Verida | Named in DHS's notice of intent to select the next statewide NEMT vendor under RFP S-1699 DMS-25. Not yet operating in Wisconsin.Notice of intent announced May 21, 2026. DHS will post transition details on its NEMT vendor page. |
Family Care, Family Care Partnership, and PACE define transportation in their own contract, and IRIS in its service definitions. SMV providers can add non-emergency medical and community transportation for those three programs, and community transportation for IRIS, to their Medicaid enrollment.
The Transportation Advisory Council, which includes transportation companies, meets on the first Thursday of March, June, September, and December. The next meeting is December 3, 2026, and meetings are open to the public.
How to become a NEMT provider in Wisconsin
Wisconsin certifies specialized medical vehicle providers under state rule. Get certified with Wisconsin Medicaid, then contract with the NEMT manager.
Form the business and set up WisDOT compliance
Register the company and get a federal EIN. SMVs are human service vehicles under ch. Trans 301, which sets equipment standards and makes the owner responsible for having each vehicle inspected every year.
Meet the DHS 105.39 standards
Carry at least $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence in liability plus $10,000 property damage on each vehicle. Equip every vehicle with a lift or ramp, restraints for passengers and wheelchairs, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and a fire extinguisher. Train every driver in first aid, CPR, seizure care, and your lifts and restraints before the first trip.
Wis. Admin. Code DHS 105.39: Specialized medical vehicle providers
Enroll with Wisconsin Medicaid as an SMV provider
Apply through the ForwardHealth Portal. You need the notarized SMV Providers Affidavit (F-11237), proof of payment for current vehicle insurance, a commercial policy or certificate with a vehicle schedule, a workers compensation certificate, and a current American Heart Association or Red Cross CPR card for each driver. No NPI is required. An application fee applies.
Plan for high-risk screening
SMV providers are high risk at enrollment and moderate at revalidation. Everyone with 5 percent or more ownership is fingerprinted, and new SMV providers get provisional enrollment until an audit is completed. No electronic billing is approved before the audit.
Contract with the NEMT manager
Apply to join MTM Health's network. Under the DHS contract, NEMT drivers need background checks, regular drug tests, and training, including special training for drivers who transport children. DHS says transportation providers do not need to do anything about the Verida selection yet and will post updates on its NEMT vendor page.
Vehicle and driver requirements in Wisconsin
Wisconsin puts real standards in state rule. DHS 105.39 covers SMV insurance, equipment, inspections, and driver training, Trans 301 covers the vehicles, and the NEMT manager contract adds screening.
Vehicles
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly inspection | A driver or mechanic inspects each vehicle at least every 7 days (lights, brakes, steering, tires with at least 1/8 inch of tread, lifts, ramps, restraints) and documents it. Deficiencies are fixed before any rider is carried, and records are kept 12 months (DHS 105.39). | Vehicle inspections are part of the manager's credential monitoring. |
| Annual inspection | The owner has each human service vehicle inspected every year (Trans 301.96). | The manager monitors vehicle inspections and blocks trips when credentials lapse. |
| Equipment | Lift or ramp, restraints for every passenger including wheelchairs, cots, and stretchers, flashlight, first aid kit, serviced fire extinguisher, and emergency numbers posted on the dash. | Vehicle marked with the company name (DHS NEMT driver rules, P-00533B). |
| Vehicle list | A list of every vehicle with registration, VIN, plate, make, model, year, capacity, insurance policy, restraint types, and lift or ramp, with proof of Trans 301 compliance attached. | Insurance and vehicle documents monitored by the manager. |
| Smoking | No smoking in the vehicle (DHS 105.39 and Trans 301.05). | Drivers may not smoke around passengers. |
Drivers
| Requirement | State rule | Broker contract |
|---|---|---|
| License | A valid, unrestricted regular or commercial license. A vision restriction can be waived with corrective lenses to 20/30 or better, worn while driving. | Licensure monitored by the manager. |
| First aid and CPR | Red Cross or equivalent first aid and CPR before driving or serving as an attendant, first aid refresher every 3 years, and current CPR certification. | Certifications monitored by the manager. |
| Equipment and seizure training | Instruction in caring for a passenger having a seizure and in using every lift, ramp, and restraint the provider uses. | Special training for drivers who transport children. |
| Background and drug testing | Owners with 5 percent or more are fingerprinted at high-risk Medicaid enrollment. | Background checks and regular drug tests for NEMT drivers (DHS contract). |
| Conduct | No alcohol or controlled substances, a pre-trip vehicle check, and no leaving the vehicle running unattended (Trans 301.05). | Visible company ID, hands-free phone use only, and help from the door to the vehicle and to the main door on request (DHS NEMT driver rules, P-00533B). |
Insurance minimums in Wisconsin
Wisconsin writes an NEMT insurance minimum into rule. DHS 105.39 sets it for every specialized medical vehicle.
| Coverage | Minimum | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Liability, each SMV | $250,000 per person, $500,000 per occurrence, $10,000 property damage | Wis. Admin. Code DHS 105.39(2)(a) |
| Proof at enrollment | Letter of payment receipt for current vehicle insurance, plus the commercial policy or a certificate with a vehicle schedule | ForwardHealth SMV enrollment criteria |
| Workers compensation | Certificate of insurance submitted at enrollment | ForwardHealth SMV enrollment criteria |
| Temporary enrollment on a binder | Allowed when you send an insurance binder before the actual policy | ForwardHealth SMV enrollment criteria |
Does Wisconsin require EVV for NEMT?
No. Wisconsin requires electronic visit verification for personal care and supportive home care services and for home health care services. Nonemergency transportation is not on the list.
Trips are checked through the NEMT manager instead. The DHS contract requires electronic ride tracking, and the manager must keep rides 99.7 percent complaint free. SMV providers must document that each trip was for medical purposes, ordered by the attending provider, and given to someone with no other way to travel, and keep records for 5 years (DHS 105.39).
What changed in Wisconsin in 2025 and 2026
Wisconsin Medicaid covered 1,012,295 people in May 2026, plus 96,647 in CHIP, according to CMS preliminary monthly data. DHS posts the manager's monthly performance reports under the contract that started November 1, 2021, most recently for May 2026.
SMV coverage depends on documentation. A physician, physician assistant, nurse midwife, or nurse practitioner must document why a common carrier or private vehicle will not work. For members who are legally blind or indefinitely disabled, that document is rewritten every year. For others it is valid for up to 90 days (DHS 107.23).
The vendor change is the story for 2026. DHS announced on May 21, 2026 that it intends to select Verida to replace MTM Health, and its vendor page, last revised August 25, 2026, still gives no transition date. Members continue to book through MTM Health until DHS says otherwise.
Members can get meals and lodging on long trips, at up to $10 per meal. A trip of 100 miles or more one way earns one meal at four hours away and two meals at eight hours. A trip of 200 miles or more one way lasting at least eight hours earns two meals and an overnight stay.
The current NEMT contract with MTM Health starts, with new call center, reviewer, and ombudsman requirements. A DHS 105.39 amendment takes effect the same day.
DHS announces its notice of intent to select Verida as the next NEMT vendor under RFP S-1699 DMS-25.
DHS updates its vendor page. MTM Health remains the vendor and no transition date is set.
Next Transportation Advisory Council meeting, open to the public.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the NEMT broker in Wisconsin?
- MTM Health is Wisconsin's statewide NEMT manager under a contract that started November 1, 2021. On May 21, 2026, DHS announced its intent to select Verida as the next vendor. DHS has not set a transition date, and members and providers keep working with MTM Health until DHS announces one.
- Is Verida replacing MTM in Wisconsin?
- DHS has announced a notice of intent to select Verida after RFP S-1699 DMS-25, where Verida had the highest-scoring proposal. MTM Health's contract continues through the procurement. DHS says providers and facilities do not need to do anything yet and will post the timeline on its NEMT vendor page.
- Do I need to enroll with Wisconsin Medicaid to provide NEMT?
- Wisconsin Medicaid certifies specialized medical vehicle providers through the ForwardHealth Portal under DHS 105.39. Enrollment requires a notarized affidavit, insurance proof, a workers compensation certificate, and CPR cards for drivers. SMV providers do not need an NPI. Then you contract with the NEMT manager for trips.
- What insurance does a Wisconsin SMV need?
- DHS 105.39 requires at least $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence in liability plus $10,000 property damage on each specialized medical vehicle. ForwardHealth also asks for a workers compensation certificate at enrollment.
- What training do Wisconsin NEMT drivers need?
- Before driving, each SMV driver needs first aid and CPR training, instruction in caring for a passenger having a seizure, and instruction on the provider's lifts, ramps, and restraints. First aid is refreshed every 3 years and CPR must stay current. The DHS contract with the NEMT manager adds background checks, regular drug tests, and special training for drivers who transport children.
- How often must Wisconsin NEMT vehicles be inspected?
- A driver or mechanic inspects each SMV at least every 7 days and documents it, with records kept 12 months under DHS 105.39. Human service vehicles also need an annual inspection under Trans 301.96, which is the owner's responsibility.
- Does Wisconsin require EVV for NEMT?
- No. Wisconsin EVV covers personal care and supportive home care services and home health care services. NEMT trips are tracked electronically through the NEMT manager.
Running NEMT in Wisconsin with HealthRide
Wisconsin SMV rules run on paperwork: weekly vehicle inspections, driver CPR and first aid refreshers, and a current vehicle list. HealthRide tracks driver and vehicle expiration dates and vehicle inspections, and warns dispatch before an expired driver or vehicle is assigned a trip.
Official resources
- Wisconsin DHS: Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
- Wisconsin DHS: 2026 announcement for the NEMT vendor
- Wisconsin DHS: NEMT partner resources
- Wisconsin DHS: Monthly NEMT data
- Wisconsin DHS: Transportation Advisory Council
- Wisconsin DHS: Who can get free rides to appointments? (P-00533)
- Wisconsin DHS: What are the rules when getting free rides? (P-00533B)
- Wisconsin DHS: Can I get paid for meals and overnight stays? (P-00533C)
- Wis. Admin. Code DHS 105.39: Specialized medical vehicle providers
- Wis. Admin. Code DHS 107.23: Transportation
- Wis. Admin. Code ch. Trans 301: Human service vehicles
- Wis. Admin. Code Trans 301.05: Driver requirements
- Wis. Admin. Code Trans 301.95 and 301.96: Inspection and enforcement
- ForwardHealth: Information for specific provider types (SMV)
- ForwardHealth: Fingerprint requirement overview
- Wisconsin DHS: Specialized Medical Vehicle Providers Affidavit (F-11237)
- Wisconsin DHS: Electronic Visit Verification
- CMS: Medicaid and CHIP monthly enrollment data
- MTM Health: Wisconsin NEMT
- MTM Health: Join the transportation provider network
- Verida
HealthRide plans the whole day in one click and bills every ride.
$59 per vehicle per month. No contracts.